Rice terraces declared National Treasure

Tourists take souvenir photos at the Maligcong Rice Terraces in Bontoc, Mountain Province on Friday. The terraces were declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, in recognition of the centuries-old farming traditions and rich indigenous heritage of the Igorot communities.

Noel Pabalate

MANILA, Philippines — The Maligcong Rice Terraces in Bontoc, Mountain Province have been officially declared a National Cultural Treasure, giving national recognition to the centuries-old agricultural heritage.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) turned over the heritage marker to Mayor Franklin Odsey and municipal tourism officer Elizabeth Farnican on Oct. 19 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

The declaration, formalized under NCCA Commission Declaration 2024-03, recognizes the terraces’ historical and cultural significance and highlights the need to protect the indigenous knowledge, traditional farming practices and cultural heritage associated with the site.

Located in Barangay Maligcong, the stone-walled terraces rise up to 1,400 meters above sea level and are irrigated by natural springs.

Built into steep mountain slopes by generations of Igorot farmers, the rice paddies continue to support local families and demonstrate the community’s traditional agricultural expertise.

The terraces, located near Mount Kupapey, are not only a major tourist attraction, but also an active agricultural landscape where traditional rice cultivation continues.

Maligcong, which means “surrounded by rice paddies,” reflects the community’s longstanding relationship with its ancestral land and farming traditions.

With the national declaration, attention now turns to protecting the terraces against deterioration and ensuring the continuity of traditional farming practices.