Philippines Has More Than 7,500 Islands
Heads up: Philippines is no longer 7,107 islands but more! A recent discovery claims that the Philippines has more than 7, 500 islands in total. NAMRIA (National Mapping and Resource Information Authority), the agency in charge for providing map – making services to the public said they have discovered more than 400 islands using the IFSAR (interferometric synthetic aperture radar) and that the said islands are found mostly in Mindanao.
Cabanayan said that the discovered islands were earlier believed to be part of a bigger island, but using a more sophisticated and high-tech gadget, they were able to count them as a separate land masses.
The previous count – 7, 107 has been the official number of islands since 1945 by the Gazette of the Philippine Islands. Only 2,000 are inhabited and there are still 5,000 islands yet to be named.
The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) secretary Ramon Paje said “Hindi lang tayo 7,107 islands, 7,500 islands na tayo (We are not just 7,107 islands, we are now 7, 500 islands)” during his speech at the Philippine Environment Summit at the SMX Convection Center in Pasay last February 10.
This good news gives us 7,500 reasons to visit the Philippines!
Thumbnail photo credits to George Tapan
