Co-sponsorship Speech of Senator LegardaResolution Concurring to the BBNJ Agreement

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues:

The areas beyond national jurisdiction, or the High Seas, cover half of our planet’s surface and comprise two-thirds of the global ocean. These boundless waters are inseparably tied to the health of all seas, including our own coasts.

Once dismissed as barren, the High Seas are now recognized as one of the greatest reservoirs of biodiversity on Earth. They are a treasure trove of marine life, sustain livelihoods, secure our food supply, and anchor the balance of life itself.

Migratory giants such as whales, tunas, and sharks traverse these waters, while other species thrive entirely in the depths, living and breeding along submerged mountain ranges. These ecosystems, some as ancient as time itself, hold secrets that could yield life-saving medicines and deepen our understanding of Earth’s biodiversity.

And yet, while humankind has walked on the moon, only a fraction of the deep seabed has been explored. Millions of species remain undiscovered, their existence and perhaps their cures for humanity’s gravest illnesses hidden in the deep.

The High Seas are also our biggest ally against climate change. From the smallest plankton to vast carbon stores in the seabed, these waters regulate the Earth’s climate, an economic worth estimated at up to 222 billion US dollars each year. Yet tragically, they remain the least protected area on our planet.

For an archipelagic state like the Philippines, the stakes could not be higher.

The decline of ocean health impacts our coastal communities, threatening livelihoods, food security, and resilience.

Becoming a Party to the BBNJ Agreement will bring profound benefits to our nation. It will safeguard migratory fish vital to our fisheries, ensuring recovery and replenishment for future generations. It will also empower our marine scientists, opening pathways to advanced tools, modern research expeditions, and global collaboration. Through capacity building and technology transfer, the Philippines can become a regional hub of marine science, capable of exploring our deep-sea frontiers, protecting our national heritage, and contributing to humanity’s shared stewardship of the seas.

But beyond science and economy, this Agreement is about principle. It is an affirmation of a rules-based international order governed by the UNCLOS as the Constitution of the Oceans. While it does not directly address maritime boundary disputes, the BBNJ Agreement reinforces the legitimacy of the dispute settlement regime under UNCLOS, including the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award won by the Philippines.

Colleagues, this is a once-in-a generation opportunity to shape the governance of the High Seas. For more than two decades, the Philippines has been engaged in this treaty process, advocating not only for its national interest but also for humanity’s collective aspiration to preserve and protect the marine environment. Now, as the Agreement nears its entry into force, it is imperative that the voice of over 112 million Filipinos be present and heard when the crucial first Conference of the Parties is convened.

Thank you.