THE Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh), under the leadership of Gov. Aris Aumentado, advances its initiatives on environmental protection through conservation of Bohol’s flora and fauna.
This was after the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO) conducted the 3rd Bohol Flagship Species inter-agency coordination meeting on November 11, 2026, at Level 007 Hotels and Resorts Inc., Tagbilaran City.
BPEMO Officer-in-Charge Forester Restituto Piollo led the meeting, gathering representatives from the Bohol Center for Culture and Arts Development (BCCAD), the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office (BPTO), and the National Museum of the Philippines–Bohol.
Also present were representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENRO) of Talibon and Tagbilaran, and Holy Name University (HNU).
The meeting focused on the presentation of Executive Order (EO) No. 37, Series of 2026, which declares the Bohol Helmet Orchid (Corybas boholensis) and Bohol Tarsier (Carlito syrichta fraterculus) as the province’s official flagship species.
Additionally, the EO established the Technical Working Committee (TWC) to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Bohol Flagship Species Program.
Approved on August 4, 2026, the EO provided the policy framework for identifying, conserving, protecting, and promoting Bohol’s flagship species, pending the enactment of the corresponding provincial ordinance.
It also designated BPEMO to lead studies, assessments, and conservation initiatives in collaboration with concerned agencies and partners.
Discussions also covered the roles and responsibilities of the Technical Working Committee (TWC) members, the presentation of approved Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) resolutions supporting the program, and the ongoing assessment of the province’s priority species.
Among the key conservation priorities is the Bohol Helmet Orchid, a rare species endemic to the province.
Initial monitoring conducted in July, August, and October 2026 confirmed its occurrence in two sites in Bilar: Barangay Zamora, Sitio Maslog, and Barangay Campagao.
The findings highlighted the need for sustained monitoring, further field surveys, and habitat assessments to establish its population, distribution, and conservation requirements.
The initiative is anchored on Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, and supports biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, and sustainable resource management.
Through strengthened partnerships and science-based conservation measures, the PGBh advances the protection of its unique natural heritage and reinforces the island’s identity as a Bohol Island UNESCO Global Geopark, in line with its Strategic Change Roadmap. (PIMO/RJG)
