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BillSBN-209220th Congress

Waling-waling (Vanda Sanderiana) as the National Orchid of the Philippines

Filed Filed May 5, 2026
◷ Where it standsIn Filed
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on May 5, 2026, and has been approved on third reading in the Senate. The bill is currently pending in the House of Representatives, where it has not yet been acted upon since its transmission on June 17, 2026.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill highlights the importance of national symbols in promoting cultural heritage.

General publicCultural organizationsTourism sector
Timeliness
Routine

The bill addresses cultural recognition but does not respond to an urgent issue.

Affects you ifOrchid enthusiastsCultural advocatesEnvironmentalists
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
3.6/ 10
Long title

Waling-waling (Vanda Sanderiana) as the National Orchid of the Philippines

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

This bill declares the Waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana) as the National Orchid of the Philippines, recognizing its cultural significance and beauty.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresDeclares Waling-waling as the National Orchid of the Philippines.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

No national orchid is officially recognized.

This bill

Waling-waling is declared the National Orchid.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The Waling-waling, scientifically known as Vanda sanderiana, is an orchid native to the Philippines, celebrated for its beauty and rarity.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthEducationCultural heritageNational SymbolsWaling-waling

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
May 5, 2026Senate
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on CULTURE AND THE ARTS and ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE with Senator LOREN B. LEGARDA as author per Committee Report No. 58, recommending its approval in substitution of S. No. 823;
May 5, 2026Senate
Committee Report Calendared for Ordinary Business;
May 5, 2026Senate
Sponsor: Senator LOREN B. LEGARDA;
May 5, 2026Senate
Transferred from the Calendar for Ordinary Business to the Calendar for Special Order;
May 5, 2026Senate
Sponsorship speech delivered by Senator LOREN B. LEGARDA;
May 5, 2026Senate
Co-sponsorship speech of Senator ROBINHOOD PADILLA;
May 25, 2026Senate
Period of interpellation closed;
May 25, 2026Senate
Period of amendment closed;
May 25, 2026Senate
Approved on Second Reading without amendment;
May 26, 2026Senate
Copy of the bill was electronically distributed to the Senators;
Jun 9, 2026Senate
Letter from Senator ROBINHOOD PADILLA dated May 26, 2026, conveying his intention to be made co-author of SBN-2092, received by LBIS;
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Approved on Third Reading;
Jun 17, 2026Senate
In favor: (13) Senators BAM AQUINO, JV EJERCITO, FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO, RISA HONTIVEROS, PANFILO M. LACSON, MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID, FRANCIS "KIKO" N. PANGILINAN, VICENTE C. SOTTO III, ERWIN T. TULFO, RAFFY T. TULFO, JOEL VILLANUEVA, JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI and WIN T. GATCHALIAN;
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Against: (None) ;
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Abstention: (None) ;
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Sent to the House of Representatives requesting for concurrence;
✦ AI insight

Fast-tracked: the bill was approved on second reading within 20 days of filing and cleared the Senate on third reading just 12 days later, indicating strong support and momentum in the Senate.

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Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-2092 — verbatim textAs filed

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session SENATE S. No. 2092 PREPARED AND SUBMITTED BY THE COMMITTEES ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS, AND ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE WITH SENATOR LEGARDA AS AUTHOR THEREOF AN ACT DECLARING THE WALING-WALING (VANDA SANDERIANA) AS THE NATIONAL ORCHID OF THE PHILIPPINES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Waling-waling as the National Orchid. -

2 For its endemicity, rarity, beauty, popularity, and its 3 increasing cultural importance, the orchid "Waling-waling" 4 known scientifically as Vanda sanderiana (Rchb.f) Rchb.f 5 is hereby declared as the National Orchid of the 6 Philippines. This declaration is distinct from and without 8 prejudice to the "Sampaguita" (Jasminum sambac), which,

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this

2 Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder hereof not 3 otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after

5 fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official 6 Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.