Philippines Advances Cultural Heritage Agenda at 47th Session of World Heritage Committee in Paris

NCCA Executive Director Mr. Eric Zerrudo (right) and NCCA Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Lee 

PARIS 21 July 2025 — The 47th session of the World Heritage Committee was held at the UNESCO Headquarters from 06 to 16 July 2025. 

The session was chaired by Professor Nikolay Nenov of Bulgaria together with Vice Chairs: Belgium, Mexico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Zambia and Rapporteur, Ms. Joelle Bucyana of Rwanda. 

The Philippines, as a state party to the World Heritage Convention, attended the session as an observer (non-Committee member). 

On 09 July 2025, the Philippines’ Status of Conservation (SOC) report on the Baroque Churches of the Philippines was positively evaluated by the Committee and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Executive Director Mr. Eric Zerrudo, in his intervention, responded that close interagency discussions and coordination among concerned parties, including the project proponents and their representatives, are being conducted to address the Pasig River Expressway Project. 

The Committee also reported on the Upstream Process requests of Zimbabwe, Philippines and Brazil, received by the 31 March 2025 deadline, and requested the World Heritage Center, in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies, to present a progress report on the support offered to the States Parties, for consideration during the next session of the Committee, which will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea in July 2026. 

UNESCO National Commission Secretary-General Ivan Anthony Henares  thanked the World Heritage Centre for receiving the assistance request of the Fortifications of the Walled City of Manila emphasizing that this is vital to the protection of the remaining walls, as the Philippines responds to potential development challenges in the vicinity of Intramuros. He also noted the importance of capacity-building of cultural agencies and professionals in the country. END

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