PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Underground River of Puerto Princesa City has made it to the final 28 in the ongoing global search for the new seven wonders of nature.

After competing with over 400 nominees in an Internet-based voting process that was started two years ago by a Swiss-based organization where over 1 billion Internet votes were cast, the island province's main tourist draw has hurdled the final selection process that will determine the official new Seven Wonders of the World.

"This is an extraordinary achievement and the eyes of the planet will be upon the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Philippines for the next two years. We look forward to an exciting and record-breaking final race, with the whole world coming together to choose the Official New Seven Wonders of Nature," Bernard Weber, founder and president of New7Wonders Foundation said in a statement released Tuesday night.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn vowed to bring the city government's campaign to solicit votes for the Philippines’ lone entry to the international level, tapping into Filipino communities abroad and seeking support from multilateral agencies that have supported the underground river.

"This is the crucial stage of voting and we have made it this far even with very little resources and relying only on friends and visitors who have seen the underground river. Now is the time to rally behind our country's best bet to be included in the new Seven Wonders of the World," Hagedorn said in a text message sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A panel of experts chose the 28 finalists from 77 nominees that were selected in the previous stage.

The panel of experts includes: panel president Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, Dr. John Francis (United States environmentalist, social activist, author, and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to the World's Grassroots Communities), Simon King (Kenya/United Kingdom documentary filmmaker), Ana Paula Tavares (Brazil/US senior vice president and vice president of development of the Rainforest Alliance), Bernard Weber (Canada/Switzerland global voting campaign expert, photographer, filmmaker, and author), Prof. Jan Zima (Czech Republic biodiversity scientist) and Rex Weyler (Canada environmental journalist, activist, and founder of Greenpeace).

The underground river is the main feature of a vast protected area that was declared a World Heritage Site as early as 1995. Located 50 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City, it features a two kilometer navigable river underneath a karst (limestone) mountain formation with centuries old stalactites and stalagmites.

Organizers said that as one of the 28 finalists, Puerto Princesa's Underground River will be included in an international road show that will seek to draw global attention to the place and encourage people all over the world to vote for their choice.

Votes are cast over the internet using a person's existing email address. The site where votes may be cast here.

Palawan river in new 7 world wonders finals - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos