The Antique Provincial Board, during its regular session on Monday, passed a resolution urging 18 local government units in the province to identify their flagship species of flora and fauna.

“LGUs are urged to pass their ordinances declaring their flagship species of flora or fauna so that they could also preserve and protect them from poaching,” said Board Member Pio Jessielito Sumande Sr., chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and author of the resolution in an interview.

He cited the town of Hamtic, where black hawk eagles could be its flagship fauna.

“Through the protection of their flagship flora or fauna, these could also become their distinct tourism attractions,” Sumande said, adding Republic Act 9147, also known as the Wild Life Resources Conservation and Protection Act, provides the safeguarding of wildlife resources and their habitats.

The board member said the request for LGUs in the province is timely as Antique celebrates “Dulungan Month” this August.

The writhe-billed hornbill (Aceros waldeni), also known as Dulungan, has been identified as the provincial bird of Antique through Ordinance 2000-04, while August was declared Dulungan Month as mandated by Ordinance 2020-208 to raise the awareness of Antiqueños on the critically endangered species.

“The observance of the Dulungan Month every August is to bring to the people’s awareness the importance of conserving and protecting the Dulungan or writhe-billed hornbill, which is the provincial fauna or bird,” Sumande, the author of the resolution, said.

The provincial bird, also known as the “farmer of the field,” helps sows seeds in upland areas where tree-growing activities of the government are difficult to bring.

It is also the “clock of the mountain” because it produces a loud sound every hour, thus making people aware of the time.

The province is yet to conduct a mapping activity to determine their population, but their existence indicates good biodiversity serving as their dwelling place.

The province unveiled a big tarpaulin at the capitol ground to mark the start of the celebration on July 31

There will be a photo exhibit at the capitol on Aug. 28 to 31 and a biodiversity talk at St. Anthony’s College during the culmination on Aug. 31. (PNA)