Legarda Champions a Genuine Blue Economy and Women’s Leadership in Marine Sustainability

Senator Loren Legarda reaffirmed her commitment to marine conservation, sustainable development, and women’s empowerment during the “Blue Horizons – Accelerating the UK-Philippines Partnership for a Sustainable Blue Economy” panel discussion at The Conservatory, Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati City.

Hosted by the British Embassy Manila in honor of the visit of UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. David Lammy, the panel discussion focused on advancing biodiversity and ocean protection.

As a principal author and sponsor of the Blue Economy Bill, Legarda underscored the need to ensure proper ocean accounting and environmental valuation, stressing that economic sustainability and ecological conservation must go hand in hand.

“How can a Filipino, born in an archipelago where 64 out of 82 provinces are coastal and where more than 32,000 kilometers of shoreline define our nation, not see the ocean as central to our identity and survival?” Legarda remarked.

The four-term Senator emphasized that the Blue Economy Bill was designed to complement the Philippine Environment and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS), another law she championed.

“The Blue Economy Bill, complemented by the PENCAS Law, ensures that we track, measure, and assign value to our coral reefs, mangroves, and coastal resources. Only by doing so can we fully understand what we own and what we must protect.”

However, she warned against attempts to dilute the Blue Economy bill. “I will not allow its core principles be mangled, destroying the natural habitat of fish and abandoning our fisherfolk.”

The event also marked International Women’s Day, highlighting the vital role of women in ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries. When asked how women’s voices can be better heard in these discussions, Legarda emphasized the need for greater economic access, financial support, and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).

“As the author and sponsor of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), I want to ensure that more women in local communities, particularly in coastal areas, gain access to funding without excessive bureaucracy,” Legarda said.

She called for concrete solutions, including providing women with greater financial access through agencies like the DTI, DENR, and DA, ensuring that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in coastal areas receive support.

She also stressed the importance of documenting Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) to preserve and pass down traditional marine conservation practices. Additionally, she highlighted the need to equip women with better tools by using resources from the PSF, Biodiversity Fund, and Shared Services Facilities (SSF) program to provide fishing boats, nets, cold storage, and tuna processing facilities—particularly in tuna-rich areas such as the “Tuna Highway” in her home region.

Legarda further emphasized the need to invest in education, technology, and innovation to empower women in marine-based industries, citing her authorship of the Philippine Innovation Act as a key mechanism to support women’s entrepreneurship and skills development. “There’s so much to be done, but the first step is breaking barriers to access,” Legarda said. “Only by equipping women with education, capital, and innovation can we truly build a resilient and inclusive Blue Economy.”

The panel discussion precedes the 5th UK-PH Climate and Environment Dialogue (March 12, 2025) and the UN Ocean Conference (June 2025), where both the Philippines and the UK are expected to deepen their commitments to ocean conservation, blue carbon ecosystems, and sustainable fisheries management. (30)

———

Mas Matatag at Inklusibong Blue Economy, Isinusulong ni Legarda sa UK-PH Panel Discussion

Pinagtibay ni Senadora Loren Legarda ang kanyang pakikiisa at paninindigan para sa pagprotekta ng likas na yamang dagat, sustainable development, at pagpapalakas ng kababaihan sa ginanap na “Blue Horizons – Accelerating the UK-Philippines Partnership for a Sustainable Blue Economy” panel discussion sa The Conservatory, Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati City.

Ang pagtitipon, na inorganisa ng embahada ng United Kingdom sa Maynila sa okasyon ng pagbisita ni UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. David Lammy, ay sumentro sa talakayan patungkol sa proteksyon ng biodiversity at ng karagatan.

Bilang principal author at sponsor ng Blue Economy Bill, binigyang-diin ni Legarda ang kahalagahan ng ocean accounting at environmental valuation sa ating mga karagatan.

Ang ocean accounting at environmental valuation ay ang siyektipong pag-aaral at paglalagay ng halaga sa likas na yaman, tulad ng karagatan, kagubatan, biodiversity, at tubig, upang maisama ito sa paggawa ng mga desisyon sa ekonomiya at pamamahala. Dahil dito, mapapag-aralang mabuti kung paano mababalanse ang pag-unlad ng ekonomiya at pangangalaga sa kalikasan.

“Paano hindi magiging sentro ng ating identidad at buhay ang karagatan, gayong tayo ay isang bansang napapaligiran ng tubig? Sa ating 82 probinsya, 64 ang coastal, at mahigit 32,000 kilometro ang ating baybayin. Ang ating kinabukasan ay nakatali sa ating mga karagatan,” ani Legarda.

Kaakibat din umanong iiral ng Blue Economy Bill ang Philippine Environment and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act, isa rin sa kanyang mga isinulong na batas.

“Sa pamamagitan ng Blue Economy Bill at PENCAS Law, masusukat at mabibigyan natin ng tamang halaga ang ating coral reefs, mangroves, at iba pang yamang-dagat. Kailangan natin itong gawin upang maunawaan kung ano ang mga likas na yaman na meron tayo, ano nga ba ang halaga ng mga ito kung ekonomiya ang pag-uusapan at kung paano natin ito pangalagaan,” dagdag niya.

Ngunit binalaan niya rin ang publiko laban sa mga grupong nais pahinain ang mga proteksyong pangkalikasan at pangmamamayan na nilagay sa Blue Economy Bill.
“Hindi ako papayag na palabnawin ang tingkad na asul ng Blue Economy bill. Hindi ako papayag na maalis ang tunay na layunin ng batas – sisirain ang natural habitat ng mga isda at pababayaan na lang ang ating mga mangingisda.”

Kasabay rin ng pagdiriwang ng International Women’s Day, naging tampok sa diskusyon ang mahalagang papel ng kababaihan sa pangangalaga ng karagatan at sustainable fisheries.

Binigyang-diin ni Legarda ang pangangailangan mas malawak na access sa pondo, suporta sa mga negosyong pangkabuhayan, at paggamit ng Indigenous Knowledge Systems o ang mga tradisyunal na kasanayan, paniniwala, at pamamaraan ng pangangalaga sa kalikasan ng mga katutubong pamayanan.

“Bilang may-akda at sponsor ng People’s Survival Fund (PSF), gusto kong tiyakin na mas maraming kababaihan sa mga coastal communities ang makakakuha ng pondo nang hindi dumadaan sa sobrang daming rekisitos,” ani Legarda.

Nanawagan siya ng konkretong hakbang para suportahan ang kababaihan sa sektor ng pangisdaan at marine industries. Ayon sa kanya, dapat tiyakin na ang mga ahensya tulad ng DTI, DENR, at DA ay nagbibigay ng sapat na suporta sa micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sa mga coastal areas.
Idiniin din niya ang pangangailangang idokumento ang mga Indigenous Knowledge Systems upang mapanatili at maipasa sa susunod na henerasyon ang mga tradisyunal na paraan ng pangangalaga sa dagat.

Bukod dito, hinimok niyang gamitin ang People’s Survival Fund, Biodiversity Fund, at Shared Services Facilities (SSF) program upang mabigyan ng bangka, lambat, cold storage, at tuna processing facilities ang kababaihan, lalo na sa mga lugar tulad ng Tuna Highway sa kanyang probinsiya.

Binigyang-diin din ni Legarda ang pangangailangang mamuhunan sa edukasyon, teknolohiya, at inobasyon upang bigyan ng mas matibay na pundasyon ang kababaihan sa marine-based industries.

“Bilang may-akda ng Philippine Innovation Act, nais kong tiyakin na may sapat na suporta ang kababaihan sa entrepreneurship at skills development. Marami pa tayong kailangang gawin, pero ang unang hakbang ay alisin ang mga hadlang sa access. Sa edukasyon, kapital, at inobasyon lamang natin tunay na mapapalakas ang isang mas inklusibo at matibay na Blue Economy,” paliwanag niya.

Ang diskusyong ito ay nagsilbing pag-unang talakayan na susundan ng 5th UK-PH Climate and Environment Dialogue sa ika-labindalawa ng Marso 2025 at UN Ocean Conference naman sa buwan ng Hunyo 2025. Sa mga darating na pagpupulong, mas lalo pa umanong paiigtingin ng Pilipinas at United Kingdom ang kanilang mga pangako at aksyon kaugnay ng ocean conservation, blue carbon ecosystems, at sustainable fisheries management. (30)