PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Cleopatra's Needle is the city's tallest mountain with more than 40,000 hectares considered a critical habitat for different flora and fauna.

It is also one of the candidates for funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association.

The Centre for Sustainability, a non-government organization, has applied for a P1.3-million rehabilitation project for Cleopatra's Needle.

The project includes the restoration of trails, habitat and education.

"This will enhance visitors' experience and also strengthen the livelihood opportunities for the community and, most importantly, this will also gear towards protection of wildlife especially the local endemic species inside Cleopatra's Needle" said Aubrey Padilla, the centre's senior project officer.

The Philippines is one of 4 countries vying for the funding money; the other entries are from Romania, Mauritus and Uganda. The representative NGO with the most votes will take home the prize.

With a few days left in the competition, the Centre for Sustainability is asking for help from Filipinos to vote for the only Asian representative in the selection process.

Voters can check the Facebook page of the Centre for Sustainability or go to the website of European Outdoor Conservation to vote.

Cleopatra's Needle is at 2nd place as of Friday.