The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.^[1] The convention established that cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Meanwhile, natural heritage consists of physical and biological formations, geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened flora and fauna), and sites used for scientifical research and/or conservation, as well as those regarded for its natural aesthetic.^[2]

Vigan

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Ifugao Rice Terraces

Paoay Church

Santa Maria Church

San Agustin Church

Miagao Church

Tubbataha Reef

Mount Hamiguitan

Location of World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. Blue dots indicate the Baroque Churches.

The Republic of the Philippines ratified the convention on September 19, 1985, making its historical and natural sites eligible for inclusion on the list. The country had its first sites (the Baroque Churches and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park) included in 1993, and now has six sites, the latest being the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in 2014. Of those six sites, three each are cultural and natural.^[3] In addition, the government of the Philippines has also put 19 sites on the tentative list, meaning that they intend to consider them for nomination in the future.^[4] The lack of World Heritage Sites were mainly reasoned to little awareness among locals, the absence of competent people involved, and the lack of government funding.^[5] One site, the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, was once listed as a World Heritage in Danger due to the lack of conservation and monitoring efforts.

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.^[6]

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World Heritage Sites

Site	Image	Location (region)	UNESCO data	Year listed	Description
Baroque Churches of the Philippines		City of Manila; Ilocos Sur; Ilocos Norte; Iloilo, Western Visayas	677bis; Cultural: (ii), (iv)	1993	During the Spanish colonial period between the 16th and 18th centuries, Spain designed four Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines, with the help of Chinese and Filipino workers. They are the Churches of San Agustin (pictured), Santa Maria, Paoay, and Miagao. Using a modified Baroque architecture style, it was built using local materials to withstand the country's climate, and thus paved the way for the expansion of churches in the country.[7]
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park		Palawan, Mimaropa	653bis; Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	1993	Located at the heart of the Sulu Sea, this site includes the reef's northern and southern atoll, as well as the Jessie Beazley Reef, totalling at 96,828 hectares. In addition to a 100-meter coral reef, it houses 360 coral and around 700 fish species, notably whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and the humphead wrasse. It also has one of the few seabird colonies on Earth.[8] A battery of barracudas is pictured.
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras		Ifugao, Cordillera	722; Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)	1995	This site includes the Banaue, Mayoyao, Hungduan, and Nagacadan Rice Terraces. They were established 2,000 years prior to inscription in pre-colonial Philippines, by the local Ifugao people. Despite its shared, unique heights and steepness, each have their own facade. Banaue in particular consists of two terraces: Bangaan and Batad (pictured), both located nearby a village. From 2001 to 2012, with the lack of a conservation and monitoring effort, UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage in Danger.[9][10]
Historic City of Vigan		Ilocos Sur, Ilocandia	502rev; Cultural: (ii), (iv)	1999	Vigan is a city built during the Spanish colonial period in the 16th century. Situated at the delta of the Abra River, it used to be a trading post. The 17.25-hectare site displays its architecture, a fusion of Filipino, Chinese, European, and Mexican architecture. For instance, some parts do not fully conform to the grid plan as required by the Laws of the Indies. The two plazas, Salcedo and Burgos, contain a cathedral, an archbishop palace, a city hall, and the Provincial Capitol Building. In total, there are 233 historic buildings in the site.[11] Pictured is the Calle Crisologo street.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park		Palawan, Mimaropa	652rev; Natural: (vii), (x)	1999	Located southwest of the Philippine archipelago. this 22,202-hectare site includes several karstic caves formed by limestones with various rock formations, and an 8.2-kilometer subterranean river, which flows to the sea. Because of this, its brackish lower part is prone to tides. With a variety of mountain and marine species, its waters and forests are a vital area for biodiversity conservation.[12]
Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary		Davao Oriental, Davao	1403rev; Natural: (x)	2014	Located southeast of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, Hamiguitan rises up to 1,637 meters above sea level. There are 1,380 species; of all those deemed threatened and endemic, eight are exclusive to Hamiguitan. Threatened fauna include the Mindanao bleeding-heart and Philippine warty pig; critically endangered fauna include the Philippine eagle and cockatoo; critically endangered flora include the Shorea polysperma and Shorea astylosa.[13]

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In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.^[14]

• List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in the Philippines
• List of protected areas of the Philippines
• Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines
• Lists of Cultural Properties of the Philippines
• List of national parks of the Philippines