President Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday urged the people of the Philippines to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New7 Wonders of Nature, saying that additional jobs would be generated in the tourism sector should it be chosen. Aquino said that if the country’s candidate were to be in the top 14, it would increase the country’s tourism by 40 percent, citing the fact that the Taj Mahal, which is already one of the Seven Wonders of the World, has increased India’s tourism by 60 percent.
“If in case we get to last 14, that will increase tourism by about 40 percent and that is a big number,” the Manila Bulletin quoted the president as saying. He then urged the public to vote by texting PPUR and sending it to 2861.
“In the Philippines, we have 80 million cellphones for 95 million Filipinos,” Aquino said. “Isang text niyo. baka pwede magkasundo, text PPUR and send it to 2861 [Just one text, maybe you can urge your friends to text PPUR and send it to 2861],” he added.
The president was speaking at the 10th Student Catholic Action of the Philippines national leadership conference at the St. Paul University in Manila.