Senator Loren Legarda has called for urgent and collective action to protect the Philippines’ oceans, warning that without decisive steps, climate change and pollution could inflict severe damage on livelihoods, food security, and the economy.

Speaking at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Ocean Talk on 13 August, a post-event symposium following the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, Legarda described the ocean as “the soul of our archipelago,” sustaining 2.24 million livelihoods and contributing P787 billion annually to the economy.

She cautioned that rising sea levels could displace 150,000 Filipinos and cause more than P18 billion in losses by 2040, while over four million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste annually threaten marine life and the food chain.

“Climate harm is a breach of legal duty, and protecting our oceans is central to human dignity, security, and peace,” Legarda said, citing a recent International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion that affirmed states’ binding responsibility to prevent, reduce, and redress climate damage.

The senator noted the Philippines’ active role in UNOC3 last June, highlighting the country’s leadership as one of 13 Vice Presidents, presence in every major space of the conference, and participation in nine thematic panels.

Legarda stressed that “strong words in conference halls must translate into tangible action at the community level,” calling for empowered local governments to enforce sustainable fishing, protect mangroves, expand marine protected areas, and combat threats such as illegal fishing and poor waste management.

She also urged a cultural shift toward ocean literacy, encouraging Filipinos to view the seas as a shared inheritance.

“The fight for our oceans demands unprecedented cooperation. Civil society must keep us accountable. The academe must guide us with sound science. The private sector must make sustainability the standard, the wisdom of our indigenous peoples and local communities must be valued. And the youth should use their creativity to change the tide,” Legarda said.

“Our most significant victories are yet to be won, if we dare to do more, together,” she concluded.