As deadline nears, Aquino calls for votes for Palawan river

With just four days to go before the deadline for voting, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Monday urged Filipinos to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. In a message on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon, Aquino asked Filipinos to vote for PPUR via text messaging. "Suportahan po natin ang Puerto Princesa Underground River. Bumoto na po at gawin itong isa sa 7 Wonders of the World. Text PPUR to 2861," he said. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2-kilometer navigable underground river. The river, touted to be the world's longest underground river, is located about 50 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Voters have until "11-11-11" or November 11, 2011 (Friday) to send their votes. A profile of the PPUR on the New Seven Wonders of Nature website said, "A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers." "At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave," it said. Voting slowing down? As of 2:00 p.m. on Monday, trends showed that the voting for PPUR appeared to have "slowed down." However, the New Seven Wonders of Nature website pointed out that other forms of voting, such as SMS voting, may produce different indicators. "Final positions on 11/11/11 will be of course determined by the combination of website, certificate and SMS/telephone votes," it said. Puerto Princesa underground river According to the website of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), the Puerto Princesa Underground River is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world. The Official Gazette of the Philippine government said in June, "The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines is composed of a long mountain landscape and a beautiful, breathtaking subterranean river that winds through a cave that has been carved into shape by the giant hand of nature." "It comes as no surprise that the Puerto Princesa Underground River has made it as one of the 28 finalists in the global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature," it added. VP Binay also pitches for PPUR Vice President Jejomar Binay in April also urged the public to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the World’s New Seven Wonders of Nature. “Please encourage your relatives, friends and every concerned Filipino to vote. This is also in support of the Aquino administration’s effort to put the country in the map and bring attention to our beautiful country," Binay said in a news release posted on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) website. The deadline for voting — November 11 — happens to be the birthday of Binay. - VVP, GMA News