List of World Heritage Sites in the Philippines
Tentative list
Table:
Type (criteria)

Site

Location

Period

Description

Image

Ref

Natural: (vii)(ix)(x)

Apo Reef Natural Park

Sulu Sea

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is the second biggest producer of juvenile marine fishes in the world, next only to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

[12]

Cultural: (i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)

Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension)

Loboc Church of Bohol
Boljoon Church of Cebu
Guiuan Church of Eastern Samar
Tumauini Church of Isabela
Lazi Church of Siquijor

Various Locations

18th to 19th centuries

All five baroque churches have been declared as National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines.

[13]

Mixed

Batanes Protected landscapes and seascapes

Batanes

Pleistocene Epoch and 100 AD

The Mahatao Church of Batanes is a declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines.

[14]

Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v)

Butuan Archeological Sites

Agusan del Norte

10th century

The site exemplified and concretized the capability of the pre-Hispanic Rajahnate of Butuan as a nation with great expertise in boat-making, seafaring, and gold manufacturing.

[15]

Natural: (vii)(viii)

Chocolate Hills Natural Monument

Bohol

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is the focal property of the proposed Bohol Global Geopark Reserve.

[16]

Mixed: (iii)(ix)(x)

Coron Island Natural Biotic Area

Palawan

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is within the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

[17]

Natural: (ix)(x)

El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area

Palawan

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is within the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

[18]

Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)

Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves

Benguet

100 AD

The site has been listed by the World Monuments Fund for immediate international conservation. It is a declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines.

[19]

Natural: (vii)(x)

Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MMVNP)

Albay

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is the central property of the Albay UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

[20]

Natural: (ix)(x)

Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park

Mindoro

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is a declared ASEAN Heritage Park.

[21]

Natural: (vii)(ix)(x)

Mount Malindang Range Natural Park

Misamis Occidental

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is a declared ASEAN Heritage Park.

[22]

Natural: (ix)(x)

Mount Mantalingajan Protected Landscape

Palawan

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is part of the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

[23]

Natural: (ix)(x)

Mount Pulag National Park

Ifugao, Nueva Viscaya, and Benguet

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is the third highest point in the Philippines.

[24]

Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v)

Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran Municipalities

Cagayan

Neolithic Period

The site is the largest shell midden zone in the Philippine archipelago.

[25]

Natural: (ix)(x)

Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone

Isabela

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is the largest national park in the Philippines.

[26]

Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v)

Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley

Awidon Mesa Formation Paleolithic Sites of Solana in Cagayan Province
Callao Limestone Formation Paleolithic Sites of Peñablanca in Cagayan Province

Cagayan Valley

Paleolithic Period

The site includes the location where the bone fragments of Callao Man, the oldest hominid found in the Philippines, was found. The site is also where Homo luzonensis, a new human species, was found. Callao Man has since been reclassified as part of Homo luzonensis.

[27]

Cultural: (iii)

Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines

Angono Petroglyphs of Rizal
Alab Petroglyphs of Mountain Province
Penablanca Petrographs of Cagayan Province
Singnapan Caves Petrographs of southern Palawan
Anda Peninsula Petrographs of Eastern Bohol

Multiple locations

Paleolithic Period

The sites in Singnapan, Alab, and Angono have been declared as National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines. The site in Angono has been listed by World Monuments Fund.

[28]

Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v)

The Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun

Palawan

Paleolithic Period

The site is a declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines due to the Tabon Man discovery in the area. It was listed by the World Monuments Fund.

[29]

Natural: (ix)(x)

Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary

Tawi-Tawi

Pleistocene Epoch

The site is a major green sea turtle breeding and hatchery zone in the Asia-Pacific.

[30]

By analysing the given table and the article excerpts listed below.

State the answer to the question: What is the Proclamation No . that converted the site to a natural park which is located in the province that has four trade centers ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

Apo Reef is a coral reef system in the Philippines situated on the western waters of Occidental Mindoro province in the Mindoro Strait . Encompassing 34 square kilometres ( 13 sq mi ) , it is considered the world 's second-largest contiguous coral reef system , and is the largest in the country . The reef and its surrounding waters are protected areas in the country administered as the Apo Reef Natural Park ( ARNP ) . It is one of the best known and most popular dive sites in the country . It is listed in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
The Sulu Sea ( Filipino : Dagat ng Sulu ; Tausug : Dagat sin Sūg ; Chavacano : Mar de Sulu ; Cebuano : Dagat sa Sulu ; Hiligaynon : Dagat sang Sulu ; Karay-a : Dagat kang Sulu ; Cuyonon : Dagat i'ang Sulu ; Malay : Laut Sulu ) is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines , separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago . Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast . Sulu Sea contains a number of islands . The Cuyo Islands and the Cagayan Islands are part of the province of Palawan whereas Mapun and the Turtle Islands are part of the province of Tawi-Tawi . Sulu Sea is also where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park , one of the World Heritage Sites is located . The Panay Gulf is an extension of the Sulu Sea . Straits out of the Sulu Sea include the Iloilo Strait , the Guimaras Strait , and the Basilan Strait .
The San Pedro Apostol Parish Church ( also Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Church , Spanish : Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apóstol ) , commonly known as Loboc Church , is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Loboc , Bohol , Philippines , within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran . After the Jesuits established the Christian community in Baclayon , they moved to Loboc and established a second Christian settlement in Bohol . The parish was established in 1602 , and the present coral stone church was completed in 1734 . Because of its strategic location , it became the center of the Jesuit mission in the Bohol area . In 1768 , upon the expulsion of the Jesuits , the town was transferred to the Augustinian Recollects . The church is classified as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines . It was severely damaged when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas on October 15 , 2013 .
The Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church ( Our Lady of Patronage of Mary Parish Church ) , commonly known as Boljoon Church , is a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Our Lady of Patrocinio in the municipality of Boljoon , Cebu , Philippines , under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu . It has been declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines . It is also under consideration for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines as a member of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines ( Extension ) .
The Immaculate Conception Parish Church ( Spanish : Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción ) , commonly known as Guiuan Church , is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Guiuan , Eastern Samar , Philippines , within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Borongan . The church is classified as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines . It was formerly nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines under two categories , the Baroque Churches of the Philippines ( Extension ) and the Jesuit Churches of the Philippines . It was totally destroyed when Typhoon Haiyan ( locally named as Yolanda ) made landfall in Guiuan and struck other parts of Central Visayas on November 8 , 2013 .
The San Matias Parish Church ( Spanish : Iglesia Parroquial de San Matías ) , commonly known as Tumauini Church , is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Tumauini , Isabela , Philippines , within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan . It became a separate parish independent from Cabagan under the advocacy of Saint Matthias in 1751 . The church , known for its brick , Baroque-style architecture , was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines . Together with the churches of Boljoon , Guiuan , Loboc and Lazi , the Tumauini Church has been considered for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2006 under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines ( Extension ) .
The San Isidro Labrador Parish Church ( Spanish : Iglesia Parroquial de San Isidro Labrador ) , commonly known as Lazi Church , is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Lazi , Siquijor , Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dumaguete . It became an independent parish in 1857 under the advocacy of Saint Isidore the Laborer The church , also known for its huge convent , was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines . It is also nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2006 under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines ( Extension ) together with the churches of Boljoon , Guiuan , Loboc and Tumauini . In 2014 , the government announced its plan to nominate Lazi Church in the World Heritage List . It conducted a dossier training for Lazi representatives . Once the dossiers are completed , the long process of nomination will commence in Paris .
The National Cultural Treasures declarations are authorized under the National Heritage Act of 2009 and recognized within the Cultural Properties of the Philippines by the Philippine government . The list includes all declared National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines , including tangible and intangible heritage . Currently , out of the 106 National Cultural Treasures , only three are intangible . The declarations are made by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other cultural agencies such as the National Museum of the Philippines , National Library of the Philippines , and National Archives of the Philippines . Any Filipino institution or person can nominate a cultural property for a National Cultural Treasure declaration , whether the property is private or public . If the property is private , the ownership of the property is retained by the private owner and shall not be transferred to the government . As of May 2018 , 75 national cultural treasures are housed in Luzon , 6 national cultural treasures are housed in Mimaropa , 19 national cultural treasures are housed in the Visayas , and 6 national cultural treasures are housed in Mindanao . The Sulu archipelago currently houses no national cultural treasures . Additionally , various national cultural treasures that are originally from Mimaropa , the Visayas , and Mindanao are housed in the National Museum in Manila ( Luzon ) , such as the Qu'ran of Bayang . The number of National Cultural Treasures inside the National Museum in Manila is varied due to a declaration on artifacts and ecofacts housed by the Museum . The discrepancies in NCT declarations are due to the non-existence of a Department of Culture . In 2016 , a bill establishing the Department of Culture was filed in Congress and is expected to pass into law by early 2019 .
Batanes ( Ivatan : Provinsiya nu Batanes ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Batanes , IPA : [ baˈtanes ] ) is an archipelagic province in the Philippines situated in the Cagayan Valley region . It is the northernmost province in the country , and also the smallest , both in population and land area . Its capital is Basco located on the island of Batan . The island group is located approximately 162 kilometres ( 101 mi ) north of the Luzon mainland and about 190 kilometres ( 120 miles ) south of Taiwan , separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province by the Balintang Channel , and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel . The entire province is listed in the UNESCO tentative list for inscription in the World Heritage List . The government has been finalizing the site 's inscription , establishing museums and conservation programs since 2001 . The government aims to push for the site 's inclusion between 2018 and 2019 . Seven intangible heritage elements of the Ivatan have been set by the Philippine government in its initial inventory in 2012 . The elements are undergoing a process to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists between 2018 and 2025 .
San Carlos Borromeo Church ( Spanish : Iglesia Parroquial de San Carlos Borromeo ) , also known as Mahatao Church , is a Roman Catholic church located in Mahatao , Batan Island , Batanes , Philippines . The church 's titular is Saint Charles Borromeo whose feast is celebrated every November 4 . Its beauty and excellent state of preservation made it a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on July 31 , 2001 .
Butuan ( pronounced /ˌbuːtuˈʔɑːn/ ) , officially the City of Butuan ( Cebuano : Dakbayan sa Butuan ; Butuanon : Dakbayan hong Butuan ) , or simply known as Butuan City , is a 1st class highly urbanized city and regional center of the Caraga Region , Philippines . According to the 2015 census , it has a population of 337,063 people . It served as the former capital of the Rajahnate of Butuan before 1001 until 1756 . The city used to be known during that time as the best in gold and boat manufacturing in the entire Philippine archipelago , having traded with as far as Champa , Ming , Srivijaya , Majapahit , and the Bengali coasts . It is located at the northeastern part of the Agusan Valley , Mindanao , sprawling across the Agusan River . It is bounded to the north , west and south by Agusan del Norte , to the east by Agusan del Sur and to the northwest by Butuan Bay . Butuan City was the capital of the province of Agusan del Norte until 2000 , when Republic Act 8811 transferred the capital to Cabadbaran City . For statistical and geographical purposes , Butuan City is grouped with Agusan del Norte but governed administratively independent from the province while legislatively administered by the province 's 1st congressional district .
Agusan del Norte ( Cebuano : Amihanang Agusan ; Butuanon : Probinsya hong Agusan del Norte ) is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region of Mindanao . Its capital is the city of Cabadbaran and it is bordered on the northeast by Surigao del Norte ; mid-east by Surigao del Sur ; southeast by Agusan del Sur , and southwest by Misamis Oriental . It faces Butuan Bay , part of the Bohol Sea , to the northwest .
The Rajahnate of Butuan ( also called as Kingdom of Butuan ) was a precolonial Philippine polity centered on the northern Mindanao island in the modern city of Butuan in what is now the southern Philippines . It was known for its mining of gold , its gold products and its extensive trade network across the Nusantara area . The kingdom had trading relationships with the ancient civilizations of Japan , China , India , Indonesia , Persia , Cambodia and areas now comprised in Thailand . The balangay ( large outrigger boats ) that have been found along the east and west banks of the Libertad river ( old Agusan River ) have revealed much about Butuan 's history . As a result , Butuan is considered to have been a major trading port in the Caraga region during the pre-colonial era .
The Chocolate Hills ( Cebuano : Mga Bungtod sa Tsokolate , Tagalog : Tsokolateng burol ) are a geological formation in the Bohol province of the Philippines . There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres ( 20 sq mi ) . They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season , hence the name . The Chocolate Hills is a famous tourist attraction of Bohol . They are featured in the provincial flag and seal to symbolize the abundance of natural attractions in the province . They are in the Philippine Tourism Authority 's list of tourist destinations in the Philippines ; they have been declared the country 's third National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List .
Bohol /bɔːhɔːl/ is a 1st provincial income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region , consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands . Its capital is Tagbilaran . With a land area of 4,821 km2 ( 1,861 sq mi ) and a coastline 261 km ( 162 mi ) long , Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines . The province of Bohol is a first-class province divided into 3 congressional districts , comprising 1 component city and 47 municipalities . It has 1,109 barangays . The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts . The Chocolate Hills , numerous mounds of brown-coloured limestone formations , are the most popular attraction . The formations can be seen by land ( climbing the highest point ) or by air via ultralight air tours . Panglao Island , located just southwest of Tagbilaran , is famous for its diving locations and is routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world . Numerous tourist resorts and dive centers dot the southern beaches . The Philippine tarsier , amongst the world 's smallest primates , is indigenous to the island . It was the home province of Carlos P. Garcia , the eighth president of the Republic of the Philippines ( 1957-1961 ) who was born in Talibon , Bohol .
Coron is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines . The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name . It is about 170 nautical miles ( 310 km ) southwest of Manila and is known for several Japanese shipwrecks of World War II vintage . Because of its unique ecological features , the entire area is protected by several legal proclamations . The island and surrounding fishing grounds are part of the ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanwa people , officially designated such on June 5 , 1998 . Known as Calis among the Tagbanwas and Coronians , its tribal chieftain is Rodolfo Aguilar I . The island comprises two barangays of the municipality of Coron : Banuang Daan and Cabugao .
Palawan ( pronounced /pəˈlɑːwɑːn/ ) , officially the Province of Palawan ( Cuyonon : Probinsya i'ang Palawan / Paragua ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Palawan ; Hiligaynon : Kapuoran sang Palawan ; Cebuano : Lalawigan sa Palawan ) , is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of MIMAROPA . It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction . Its capital is the city of Puerto Princesa , but the city is governed independently from the province as a highly urbanized city . The islands of Palawan stretch between Mindoro in the northeast and Borneo in the southwest . It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea . The province is named after its largest island , Palawan Island ( 09°30′N 118°30′E / 9.500°N 118.500°E / 9.500 ; 118.500 ) , measuring 450 kilometres ( 280 mi ) long , and 50 kilometres ( 31 mi ) wide . In 2019 Republic Act 11259 was passed providing for the division of Palawan into three separate provinces . Per the law , a plebiscite will be held in Palawan in May 2020 determining whether this division will be carried out . ( See 'Contemporary period ' section )
Man and the Biosphere Programme ( MAB ) is an intergovernmental scientific programme , launched in 1971 by UNESCO , that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments . MAB 's work engages fully with the international development agenda - specially with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post 2015 Development Agenda - and addresses challenges linked to scientific , environmental , societal and development issues in diverse ecosystems ; from mountain regions to marine , coastal and island areas ; from tropical forests to drylands and urban areas . MAB combines the natural and social sciences , economics and education to improve human livelihoods and the equitable sharing of benefits , and to safeguard natural and managed ecosystems , thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate , and environmentally sustainable . The MAB programme provides a unique platform for cooperation on research and development , capacity-building and networking to share information , knowledge and experience on three interlinked issues : biodiversity loss , climate change and sustainable development . It contributes not only to better understanding of the environment , but also promotes greater involvement of science and scientists in policy development concerning the wise use of biological diversity . As of December 2018 [ update ] , 686 biosphere reserves in 122 countries , including 20 transboundary sites , have been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves .
El Nido , officially the Municipality of El Nido , ( Tagalog : Bayan ng El Nido ) , is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan , Philippines . According to the 2015 census , it has a population of 41,606 people . It is about 420 kilometres ( 260 mi ) south-west of Manila , and about 238 kilometres ( 148 mi ) north-east of Puerto Princesa , Palawans capital . A managed resource protected area , it is known for its white-sand beaches , coral reefs , limestone cliffs and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago . El Nido is currently ranked # 4 in Condé Nast Traveler 's list of 20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World . CNNGo has called it the Best Beach and Island destination in the Philippines for its extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem .
Taytay , officially the Municipality of Taytay , ( Tagalog : Bayan ng Taytay IPA : [ taj'taj ] ) , is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan , Philippines . According to the 2015 census , it has a population of 75,165 people . Since 2002 , its Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker is the episcopal see of the pre-diocesan missionary Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay .
The Fire Mummies of the Philippines , also known as the Kabayan Mummies , Benguet Mummies , or Ibaloi Mummies , are a group of mummies found along the mountain slopes of Kabayan , a town in the northern part of the Philippines . They were made from as early as 2000 BC until the 16th century , when Spain colonized the Philippines . Today , they remain in natural caves and a museum in Kabayan .
Benguet ( Tagalog pronunciation : [ beŋˈɡet ] ; Ibaloi : Probinsya ne Benguet ; Ilocano : Probinsia ti Benguet ; Pangasinan : Luyag na Benguet ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Benguet ) is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the southern tip of the Cordillera Administrative Region in the island of Luzon . Its capital is La Trinidad . The highland province is known as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines due to its huge production of upland vegetables . Situated within the interior of Benguet is the highly urbanized city of Baguio , which is administered independent from the province .
World Monuments Fund ( WMF ) is a private , international , non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork , advocacy , grantmaking , education , and training . Founded in 1965 , WMF is headquartered in New York , and has offices and affiliates around the world , including Cambodia , France , Peru , Portugal , Spain , and the United Kingdom . In addition to hands-on management , the affiliates identify , develop , and manage projects , negotiate local partnerships , and attract local support to complement funds provided by donors .
The Mayon Volcano Natural Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region ( Region 5 ) on southeast Luzon Island , the largest island of the country . The Natural park covers an area of 5,775.7 hectares ( 14,272 acres ) , which includes its centerpiece Mayon Volcano , the most active volcano in the Philippines , and its adjacent surroundings . The volcano is also renowned for having an almost perfect cone . First protected as a National Park in 1938 , it was reclassified as a Natural Park in the year 2000 .
Albay ( Central Bicolano : Probinsya kan Albay ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Albay ; Spanish : Provincia de Albay ) is a province located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon of the Philippines . Its capital is the City of Legazpi , the regional center of the whole Bicol Region , which is located in the southern foothill of Mayon Volcano , the symbol most associated with the province . This perfectly symmetrical active stratovolcano forms a magnificent , scenic backdrop to the city of Legazpi and is visible throughout the municipalities and cities of Albay including the surrounding provinces . The province was added to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in March 2016 .
The United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ; French : Organisation des Nations unies pour l'éducation , la science et la culture ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations ( UN ) based in Paris , France . Its declared purpose is to contribute to promoting international collaboration in education , sciences , and culture in order to increase universal respect for justice , the rule of law , and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter . It is the successor of the League of Nations ' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation . UNESCO has 193 member states and 11 associate members . Most of its field offices are cluster offices that cover three or more countries ; national and regional offices also exist . UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs : education , natural sciences , social/human sciences , culture and communication/information . Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy , technical , and teacher-training programs , international science programs , the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press , regional and cultural history projects , the promotion of cultural diversity , translations of world literature , international cooperation agreements to secure the world 's cultural and natural heritage ( World Heritage Sites ) and to preserve human rights , and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide . It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group . UNESCO 's aim is to contribute to the building of peace , the eradication of poverty , sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education , the sciences , culture , communication and information . Other priorities of the organization include attaining quality Education For All and lifelong learning , addressing emerging social and ethical challenges , fostering cultural diversity , a culture of peace and building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication . The broad goals and objectives of the international community - as set out in the internationally agreed development goals , including the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) - underpin all UNESCO strategies and activities .
The Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park is a protected area of the Philippines and an ASEAN Heritage Park located in the island of Mindoro in central Philippines . The park covers an area of 75,445 hectares ( 186,430 acres ) surrounding Mount Iglit and Mount Baco in the central interior of Mindoro . It was established in 1970 by virtue of Republic Act No . 6148 . In 2003 , the Association of Southeast Asian Nations listed it as one of its four heritage parks in the Philippines . The park has also been nominated in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
Mindoro is the seventh largest island in the Philippines by land area with a total of 10,571 km2 ( 4,082 sq.mi ) and with a total population of 1,331,473 as of 2015 . It is located off the southwestern coast of Luzon and northeast of Palawan . Mindoro is divided into two provinces : Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro . San Jose is the largest settlement on the island with a total population of 143,430 inhabitants as of 2015 . The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea . Mount Halcon is the highest point on the island , standing at 8,484 feet ( 2,586 m ) above sea level located in Oriental Mindoro . Mount Baco is the island 's second highest mountain with an elevation of 8,163 feet ( 2,488 m ) , located in the province of Occidental Mindoro .
ASEAN Heritage Parks ( AHP ) represent efforts to conserve areas of particular biodiversity importance or exceptional uniqueness by member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations . ASEAN environmental ministers signed the ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks on 18 December 2003 . ASEAN member countries agreed that , common cooperation is necessary to conserve and manage AHP for the development and implementation of regional conservation and management action plans as well as regional mechanisms complementary to national efforts to implement conservation measures . The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity ( ACB ) serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme . Its vision is An ASEAN region whose biodiversity is conserved , sustainably managed and used , and equitably shared for the well-being of its peoples . Forty-nine ASEAN Heritage Parks have been designated as of 2019 . Five sites are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites : Kinabalu National Park of Malaysia ; Lorentz National Park of West Papua ; Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park of the Philippines ; Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary of the Philippines ; and Khao Yai National Park of Thailand .
Mount Malindang is a complex volcano located in the province of Misamis Occidental in the southern island of Mindanao , Philippines . It is the highest point in the province . The least studied mountain range was formed through several volcanic activities some of which could be historical , evident by the presence of two calderas , surrounded by high rock walls , cinder cones , dome volcano plugs , two sulfurous hot springs , and a crater lake named Lake Duminagat . The amphitheater structures have extensive distribution of volcanic rocks , carbonized wood that are found in pyroclastic deposits . The mountain range is dissected by several canyons and ravines .
Misamis Occidental ( Cebuano : Kasadpang Misamis ; Subanen : Sindepan Mis'samis ) is a province located in the region of Northern Mindanao in the Philippines . Its capital is the city of Oroquieta . The province borders Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur to the west and is separated from Lanao del Norte by Panguil Bay to the south and Iligan Bay to the east . The province of Misamis was originally inhabited by Subanens who were an easy target by the sea pirates from Lanao . The province is named after the early settlement of the Spaniards at the entrance to the Panguil Bay . The name Misamis is believed to have been derived from the Subanen word Kuyamis which is a variety of coconut , the staple food of the early settlers . During the years the name persisted as an inference of the geographical location , and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers , the word kuyamis easily gave way to the more convenient pronounceable but corrupted word Misamis .
Mount Mantalingajan ( or Mantalingahan or Mantaling ) is the highest point in the province of Palawan , Philippines . located in the southern part of Palawan Island that forms the highest part of the Beaufort Mountains Ultramafics geological region , a series of ultramafic outcrops of Eocene origin , of which Mount Victoria forms the largest contiguous land area . The peak of the mountain is the highest point on Palawan . The mountain forms the center of the Mt . Mantalingahan Protected Landscape ( MMPL ) , a national park covering the entire Mantalingahan Mountain Range . The protected area status of MMPL was proclaimed last June 23 , 2009 , by virtue of Proclamation No . 1815 . The protected area covers an area of 120,457 hectares ( 1,204.57 km2 ) . The entire park is currently listed as a tentative site for UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription . Continuing discoveries of new species of plant and animal from the mountain highlight its tremendous ecological value and the importance of maintaining such protective zones in the face of constant logging and mining pressures . The pitcher plant species , Nepenthes mantalingajanensis , described in 2007 , is named after the mountain itself . In May 2018 , UNESCO formally began the process which would possibly declare the landscape a world heritage site by 2020 .
Mount Pulag ( Filipino : Bundok Pulag ) is Luzons highest peak at 2,926 metres ( 9,600 ft ) above sea level . It is also an dormant volcano . The borders between the provinces of Benguet , Ifugao , and Nueva Vizcaya meet at the mountain 's peak . It is the third highest mountain in the Philippines , next to Mount Apo and Mount Dulang-dulang . Mount Pulag is famous for its sea of clouds and the view of the Milky Way Galaxy at dawn , which has attracted many tourists who wish to see the other-worldly scenery . The entire mountain is believed to be the home to the tinmongao spirits and is the sacred resting ground of the souls of the Ibaloi people and other ethnic peoples in the area .
Ifugao ( Ilocano : Probinsia ti Ifugao ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Ifugao ) is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon . Its capital is Lagawe and it borders Benguet to the west , Mountain Province to the north , Isabela to the east , and Nueva Vizcaya to the south . The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras and Banaue Rice Terraces are the main tourist attractions in the province . These terraces are believed to have been hand-carved into the mountains 2,000 years ago to plant rice . However , recent research by carbon dating suggests that they were built much later . In 1995 , the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . In 2008 and 2015 , the Hudhud chants of the Ifugao and the Punnuk ( Tugging rituals and games ) were inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists .
Nueva Vizcaya ( Ilocano : Probinsia ti Nueva Vizcaya [ Baro nga Biscaya ] ; Gaddang : Probinsia na Nueva Vizcaya ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Nueva Vizcaya ) is a province of the Philippines located in the region of Cagayan Valley in Luzon . Its capital is Bayombong . It is bordered by Benguet to the west , Ifugao to the north , Isabela to the northeast , Quirino to the east , Aurora to the southeast , Nueva Ecija to the south , and Pangasinan to the southwest . Quirino province was created from Nueva Vizcaya in 1966 .
The Lal-lo and Gattaran Shell Middens are one of the most significant archaeological gastronomic finds in Southeast Asia in the 20th century . The site is located along the banks of the Cagayan River in the province of Cagayan , Philippines . The site , as old as 2000 BC , is highly important due to its archaeological impact on the food resources and human activities of the ancient peoples of the Cagayan Valley . It is currently under consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Cagayán ( /kɑːɡəˈjɑːn/ kah-gə-YAHN ) ( Ilocano : Probinsia ti Cagayan ; Ibanag : Provinsiya na Cagayan ; Itawit : Provinsiya ya Cagayan ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Cagayan ) is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in the northeast of Luzon Island , and includes the Babuyan Islands to the north . The province borders Ilocos Norte and Apayao to the west , and Kalinga and Isabela to the south . Its capital is the city of Tuguegarao . Cagayán was one of the early provincias that existed during the Spanish Colonial Period . Called La Provincia de Cagayan , its borders essentially covered the entire Cagayan Valley , which included the present provinces of Isabela , Quirino , Nueva Vizcaya , Batanes and portions of Kalinga and Apayao . The former capital was Nueva Segovia , which also served as the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia . Today , only 9,295.75 square kilometres ( 3,589.11 sq mi ) remain of the former vastness of the province . The entire region , however , is still referred to as Cagayan Valley . In 2013 , Cagayán was host to the 27th ( Survivor : Blood vs. Water ) and 28th ( Survivor : Cagayan ) seasons of the American reality game show , Survivor .
The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park is the largest protected area of the Philippines covering the northern range of the Sierra Madre mountains of eastern Luzon . The park is located in the eastern part of the province of Isabela in Cagayan Valley ( Region II ) containing a total of 359,486 hectares ( 888,310 acres ) . It was first declared a wilderness reserve encompassing an area within a 45 kilometres ( 28 mi ) radius of Palanan Point known as the Palanan Wilderness Area through Letter of Instructions No . 917-A signed by President Ferdinand Marcos on 7 September 1979 . On 10 March 1997 , the area was converted into a natural park with the signing of Proclamation No . 978 by President Fidel Ramos . The park is considered the richest in terms of genetic , species and habitat diversity in the Philippines . It is one of the country 's ten priority protected areas managed by its own Protected Area Management Board headed by the Regional Executive Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Region II under the rules set forth in Article III of Republic Act 9125 , also known as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park ( NSMNP ) Act of 2001 . In 2006 , the protected area was added to the Philippines ' tentative list of potential UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
Isabela ( Ilocano : Probinsia ti Isabela ; Ibanag : Provinsia na Isabela ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Isabela ) is the largest province on the island of Luzon in land area . Its capital is the city of Ilagan . Situated within the Cagayan Valley region , it is bordered by the provinces of Cagayan to the north , Kalinga to the northwest , Mountain Province to the central-west , Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya to the southwest , Quirino and Aurora to the south , and the Philippine Sea to the east . This primarily agricultural province is the rice and corn granary of Luzon due to its plain and rolling terrain . In 2012 , the province was declared as the country 's top producer of corn with 1,209,524 metric tons . Isabela is the 10th richest province in the Philippines as of 2011 . The province has four trade centers in the cities of Ilagan , Cauayan , Santiago and the municipality of Roxas .
Cagayan Valley or Region II is an official administrative region in the Philippines located in the northeastern portion of Luzon Island . It is composed of five Philippine provinces : Batanes , Cagayan , Isabela , Nueva Vizcaya , and Quirino . The region has four official cities : Cauayan , Isabela , Ilagan , Santiago , and Tuguegarao . Most of the region lies in a large valley , between the Cordilleras and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges . The eponymous Cagayan River , the country 's largest and second longest , runs through its center and flows south to north from the Caraballo Mountains to the Luzon Strait , in the town of Aparri , Cagayan . The official region includes the outlying Babuyan Islands and Batanes Islands to the north . Cagayan Valley is the second largest Philippine administrative region by land area , second to MIMAROPA , the Southwestern Tagalog Region .
Callao Cave ( IPA : [ kaʎaʊ ] ) is one of the limestone caves located in the municipality of Peñablanca , Cagayan province , in the Philippines . The seven-chamber show cave is one of 300 caves that dot the area and the best known natural tourist attraction of the province . The town is named as Peñablanca ( Spanish for white rocks ) for the presence of white limestone rocks in the area . Callao Cave is located in the Barangays of Magdalo and Quibal in Peñablanca about 24 km ( 15 mi ) northeast of Tuguegarao City , the capital of the Province of Cagayan . A newly-described species of human living between 50,000 and 67,000 years ago , Homo luzonensis , discovered in the cave was confirmed in 2019 . Callao and the other caves are situated in the western foothills of the Northern Sierra Madre Mountains of the Philippines . They are situated within the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape , which stretches from the caves to the eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean .
Homo luzonensis are an extinct pygmy archaic human from the Late Pleistocene of Luzon , the Philippines . Their remains are only known from Callao Cave in the northern part of the island dating to before 50,000 years ago . They were initially identified as belonging to modern humans in 2007 , but in 2019 , after the discovery of more specimens , they were placed into a new species based on the presence of a wide range of traits similar to modern humans as well as Australopithecus and early Homo . Their ancestors , who may have been Asian H. erectus or some other even earlier Homo , would have needed to have made a great sea crossing to reach the island , and hominin presence on Luzon dates to at latest 771,000 to 631,000 years ago . The inhabitants of the cave dragged in mainly Philippine deer carcasses , and used tools for butchering .
The Angono Petroglyphs are petroglyphs carved into a rock wall in Angono , Rizal , Philippines . It consists of 127 human and animal figures engraved on the rockwall probably carved during the late Neolithic , or before 2000 BC . They are the oldest known work of art in the Philippines . These inscriptions clearly show stylized human figures , frogs and lizards , along with other designs that may have depicted other interesting figures but erosion may have caused it to become indistinguishable . The engravings are mostly symbolic representations and are associated with healing and sympathetic magic . The site is sacred for indigenous Tagalog folk religion and is believed to be a home for anitos . [ citation needed ] The site has been declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure in 1973 . It is also included in the list of the World Inventory of Rock Art in 1985 and historic sites of the World Monuments Watch and World Monuments Funds and part of the Philippines ' tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site .
The Tabon Caves , dubbed as the Philippines ' Cradle of Civilization , are a group of caves located on Lipuun Point , north of Quezon municipality , in the south western part of the province of Palawan on Palawan Island , in the Philippines . They are part of the Lipuun Point Reservation , which has been protected by the government of the Philippines as a museum reservation to protect the caves and immediate vicinity from deforestation and to preserve the cultural artifacts present there . The caves are named after the Tabon scrubfowl . It is bordered on the south by the town proper of Quezon , Bgy . Panitian on the west , and the West Philippine Sea on the north and east . Out of 215 known caves , 29 have been explored and seven of these are open to the public . The seven include Tabon , Diwata , Igang and Liyang Caves . One of the oldest human bones found in the Philippines , the Tabon Man , was found here in 1962 . Other excavated , unexamined remains are stored onsite . In 2006 , the Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun was added to the tentative list of the Philippines for future UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination . The complex is managed by the National Museum and was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the same institution in February 2011 .
Tabon Man refers to remains discovered in the Tabon Caves in Lipuun Point in Quezon , Palawan in the Philippines . They were discovered by Robert B . Fox , an American anthropologist of the National Museum of the Philippines , on May 28 , 1962 . These remains , the fossilized fragments of a skull of a female and the jawbones of three individuals , were believed to be the earliest human remains known in the Philippines , which date back to 16,500 years ago , until a metatarsal from the Callao Man discovered in 2007 was dated in 2010 by uranium-series dating as being 67,000 years old . However , some scientists think additional evidence is necessary to confirm those fossils as a new species , rather than a locally adapted population of other Homo populations , such as H. erectus or Denisovan . The Tabon fragments are named after the Tabon Caves , where they were found on the west coast of Palawan . The cave complex appears to have been a kind of Stone Age factory , with both finished stone flake tools and waste core flakes having been found at four separate levels in the main chamber . Charcoal left from three assemblages of cooking fires there has been Carbon-14-dated to roughly 7000 , 20,000 , and 22,000 BCE . The right mandible of a Homo sapiens , which dates to 29,000 BC , was discovered together with a skullcap . The Tabon skull cap is considered the earliest skull cap of modern humans found in the Philippines , and is thought to have belonged to a young female . The Tabon mandible is the earliest evidence of human remains showing archaic characteristics of the mandible and teeth . The Tabon tibia fragment , a bone from the lower leg , was found during the re-excavation of the Tabon Cave complex by the National Museum of the Philippines .
Turtle Islands , officially the Municipality of Turtle Islands , is a 5th class municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi , Philippines . According to the 2015 census , it has a population of 4,727 people . It is also known as Philippine Turtle Islands to distinguish it from its Malaysian counterpart ; while locals call it Taganak . Access to the Turtle Islands is difficult , as there are no regular means of transportation to the area . This has kept the islands protected from turtle egg poachers . A station for park rangers is also present on the islands .
Tawi-Tawi ( Tausug : Wilaya ' sin Tawi-Tawi ; Sinama : Jawi Jawi/Jauih Jauih ) is an island province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( BARMM ) . The capital of Tawi-Tawi is Bongao . It is the southernmost province of the country , sharing sea borders with the Malaysian state of Sabah and the Indonesian North Kalimantan province , both on the island of Borneo to the west . To the northeast lies the province of Sulu . Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the Sulu Sea to the northwest , the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island and the Turtle Islands , just 20 kilometres ( 12 mi ) away from Sabah . The municipalities comprising the current Tawi-Tawi province were formerly under the jurisdiction of Sulu until 1973 .