The members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Tabon Cave Mapping convened on Wednesday, August 30 to discuss the Tabon Cave’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination.
The meeting took place at the Conference Room of the Office of the Governor in the capitol complex. The main agenda of the gathering was to deliberate on the comprehensive map intended for the Tabon Cave Heritage Site. This discussion was held in connection with the site’s nomination and potential inscription on the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Attending the meeting were representatives from various government bodies, including the Provincial Government, LGU Quezon, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), and the Department of Tourism (DOT) MIMAROPA.
Additionally, notable individuals such as Dossier Writer Marian Roces, Dr. Eusebio Dizon from the UP School of Archaeology, Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia from the National Museum, and Mr. Karl Albas from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) were present.
Development Management Officer V May C. Lacao from the Office of the Governor presented the proposed map during the meeting. It clearly delineates both core zones and buffer zones of Tabon Cave, aligning with the principles of the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) zoning. Another presentation came from Mr. Jonnie A. Asis of the MPDO Quezon, highlighting the map that the local government had formulated.
Creating a Heritage Site Map for Tabon Cave holds paramount importance in identifying and establishing land and sea boundaries that encompass the cave’s area.
This initiative aims to safeguard the site from detrimental activities that could adversely affect its natural preservation. This mapping process is also considered as a pivotal requirement for Tabon Cave’s nomination towards achieving the prestigious designation of being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tabon Cave is renowned for its exceptional historical and archaeological significance. Located in Quezon, Palawan, it has been the site of groundbreaking discoveries that shed light on early human migration and cultural evolution in the Southeast Asian region.