President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed his full support for a renewed push to pass the Blue Economy Act, a landmark measure designed to protect the Philippines’ coastal and marine ecosystems while driving inclusive economic growth, Malacañang said Thursday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro emphasized the President’s backing for the proposed legislation, which is seen as crucial for the environment and the welfare of Filipino fisherfolk.
“Sa lahat po ng ikagaganda ng ating environment, sa ating ikaaangat po ng taumbayan, mga mangingisda po, hindi po ito tututulan ng Pangulo (All that would benefit our environment and would lift up our people and fisherfolk, the President will not oppose it),” Castro said.
Senators Loren Legarda and Risa Hontiveros have refiled the Blue Economy Act in the Senate, aiming to finally enact the long-awaited measure. The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for the stewardship and sustainable development of the country’s coastal and marine resources.
“This bill will use our rich marine resources to drive inclusive economic growth, but it does so while protecting the environment and strengthening our coastal communities’ resilience,” said Legarda, who originally authored the measure.
Hontiveros underscored that the bill goes beyond territorial issues.
“It’s also about the rights and welfare of our fisherfolk and the health of our marine ecosystems. So yes, hopefully, that’s one of the many important things the President will mention in his SONA (State of the Nation Address),” she added.
In August last year, the Senate passed Senate Bill 2450 or the “Blue Economy Act” on third and final reading.
While the House of Representatives also approved its counterpart measure during the 19th Congress, the reconciled version failed to secure final ratification from both chambers before the session ended.
The proposed law is considered a key piece of environmental legislation that would align the Philippines with global efforts to sustainably manage ocean resources.
It declares the marine sector a central pillar of the national economy and heritage and affirms the country’s maritime rights under international law.
If passed, the law will institutionalize a whole-of-nation approach to marine governance, bringing together government agencies, academic institutions, civil society, indigenous peoples, local communities, and the private sector to conserve and harness the country’s ocean wealth.
The Blue Economy Act reflects the growing recognition of the need for integrated, science-based, and inclusive strategies to ensure the long-term health and productivity of the Philippines’ marine ecosystems.