Banaue Rice Terraces ‘photobomber’ on hold

BANAUE, Ifugao -- The construction of the seven-story parking building near the Banaue Rice Terraces remains on hold even though the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has said the site is not among the World Heritage sites.

Edison Molanida, NCCA World Heritage coordinator, said construction of the parking building needs the approval of the National Museum.

Molanida said Banaue local officials should prove the project would preserve and not alter the character of the rice terraces to get the nod of the National Museum.

Banaue Mayor Jerry Danipog had said the construction of the P55-million parking facility would proceed as scheduled after NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon said the commission has no jurisdiction over petitions to stop its construction in Barangay Poblacion.

The petitioners claimed the parking building would ruin or block the view of the rice terraces.

Danipog said only the rice terraces in Barangays Baan and Bangaan in Banaue and in the towns of Mayaoyao, Kiangan and Hungduan in Ifugao were declared World Heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.