SEVILLA. 26 June 2009-- The World Heritage Committee. meeting in Sevilla. Spain for its 33rd Session, today approved the extension of the Tubbataha World Heritage Site from 32,200 hectares to 96,828 hectares, corresponding to the area covered by the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP). This represents a threefold increase in the size of the property and is due to the inclusion of the Jessie Beazley Reef.

In its Decision, the Committee commended the Philippines and specifically the Province of Palawan and the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board "for the progress in managing the property, and the allocation of increased budgets and equipment to the property." It also acknowledged the important technical and financial support provided by NGO partners. Tubbataha was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993.

Earlier, the Committee congratulated the Philippines for the progress it has made in its conservation of the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras. The Committee praised in particular the work done by the Province of Ifugao, noting that the participation of the stakeholders at the grassroots level is critical to the success of conservation efforts for World Heritage sites.

The Rice Terraces was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1995 and was placed in the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2001, due to threats to its outstanding universal value, including unregulated development and abandonment of the terraces by its local people for economic reasons. In its evaluation. the World Heritage Center noted that these threats arc successfully being addressed jointly by national and local authorities and said that the Philippine experience can be used as an example of best practices in conservation.

The United States said it was "particularly impressed" that the Philippines "took the initiative to develop the desired state of conservation" for the terraces, while Morocco welcomed the success of conservation efforts,  noting that the Rice Terraces is an outstanding example and is "emblematic" of World Heritage sites. Other states, including Sweden. Kenya, Israel, Peru and Egypt delivered statements of congratulations.

The World Heritage Committee is composed of 21 members and is tasked with the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention. It selects natural, cultural and mixed properties from all over the world for inscription in the World Heritage List, which vests the property with  international prestige and protection, and carries with it corresponding financial and technical assistance for conservation of the property.

The World Heritage Committee is holding its 33rd Session from 22 to 30 June. The Philippine Delegation is headed by Ambassador Rora Navarro-Tolentino, Philippine Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Second Secretary Maria Angela Ponce and Arch. Joycelyn Mananghaya, Commissioner of the UNESCO National Commission in charge of the World Heritage conservation concerns.