As the world marks World Wildlife Day, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is turning everyday currency into a powerful reminder of the country’s responsibility to protect its natural heritage.
Through the First Philippine Polymer Banknote Series, the BSP places biodiversity front and center—transforming each bill into a visual tribute to the nation’s most iconic and vulnerable species. Beyond enhanced durability and security features, the polymer notes now carry a deeper message: conservation is a shared national duty.
The 1000 Piso polymer note features the majestic Philippine eagle alongside the sampaguita, symbolizing strength and national pride. The 500 Piso highlights the Visayan spotted deer and the rare orchid Acanthephippium mantinianum.
The 100 Piso showcases the Palawan peacock-pheasant paired with Ceratocentron fesselii, while the 50 Piso depicts the elusive Visayan leopard cat and Vidal’s lanutan.
For conservation photographer Floyd Bermejo, whose images of the Philippine eagle and a Visayan leopard cat named “Kyle” were donated for the polymer series, visibility is key to protection.
“People don’t protect what they don’t know,” Bermejo emphasized.
His lens captured more than just wildlife—it captured urgency. The Visayan leopard cat has been classified as vulnerable since 2008 due to habitat loss and shrinking populations. Endemic to Negros, Panay, and Cebu, the nocturnal feline now survives largely in sugar plantations, preying on birds and rodents in increasingly fragmented landscapes.
By placing Kyle on the 50 Piso bill, Bermejo hopes millions of Filipinos will encounter the species not just as currency artwork, but as a living creature in need of protection.
“That’s the ultimate goal of conservation photographers—to highlight our species so our fellow Filipinos can see that we have these treasures and that we must protect their habitats. So future generations can see them not only in photos or banknotes, but in real life,” he said.
With every transaction, the BSP’s polymer banknotes now carry more than monetary value—they carry a call to action. In the palm of every Filipino’s hand lies a reminder that safeguarding biodiversity is not solely the work of scientists or environmentalists, but a collective responsibility woven into the very fabric of the nation.