Senator Loren Legarda is seeking to formally declare the Waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana) as the Philippines’ national orchid, highlighting the need to strengthen conservation efforts for one of the country’s most iconic yet increasingly threatened plant species.

During her sponsorship speech at the Senate plenary on Tuesday, May 5, Legarda revisited her earlier proposal filed in 2012, which sought to recognize the Waling-waling as an additional national flower alongside the Sampaguita. The earlier measure, however, was vetoed.

“Today, we return with a more precise and thoughtful approach… This bill proposes to declare the Waling-waling as the National Orchid of the Philippines,” Legarda said, emphasizing that the updated proposal aims to complement existing national symbols rather than replace them.

The senator stressed that the initiative goes beyond symbolism, noting that the orchid’s survival is increasingly threatened by deforestation, illegal logging, habitat loss, climate change, and the unregulated collection of wild specimens for commercial use.

The Waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana), which is endemic to the Philippines, naturally grows in forested areas of Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga, making it both a biological and cultural treasure.

Under the proposed measure, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will lead efforts in conservation, protection, and propagation of the species, while the National Museum of the Philippines will promote its scientific and cultural importance.

“This is where symbolism meets substance,” Legarda said, stressing that biodiversity conservation and environmental protection must be treated as national priorities.

She added that the Waling-waling deserves national recognition due to its endemicity, rarity, beauty, and cultural significance, underscoring its role as a symbol of the country’s natural heritage.