KALIBO, Aklan – A team from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of the Aklan provincial government reported a sighting of the rare Rafflesia lobata giant flower in Barangay Maria Cristina, Madalag town.
The discovery was made on April 16, 2024 during a visit to a site part of the National Greening Program (NGP), a reforestation initiative by the national government.
Accompanied by third-party validators of the NGP, the PENRO personnel identified the plant species, which is only found in Panay and Negros Occidental.
Known for producing aerial buds and flowers several meters above ground, Rafflesia lobata is classified as “vulnerable” according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2017-11.
One of the most striking characteristics of Rafflesia lobata is its lobed diaphragm that opens outward, distinguishing it from other species.
The Philippines is home to 13 recognized Rafflesia species, located across the larger islands of Luzon, Samar, Mindanao, Negros, and Panay. (DENR-6/PN)
