AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee is pushing for the adoption of a “blue economy” as a framework for safe use and sustainable development of Philippine maritime resources.
Lee stressed that harnessing the blue economy will “maximize the economic contributions of our seas while ensuring its responsible development to preserve it for future generations.”
Lee is the author of House Bill No. 8893 or the Blue Economy Act of 2023 which was approved by the House Committee on Economic Affairs on September 12.
The blue economy refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using green infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of protecting our oceans and coasts and enhancing its potential contribution to sustainable development, including improving human well-being, and reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
The lawmaker pointed out that the country, located in the Coral Triangle, is a biodiversity hotspot that “is neglected as human activities such as overexploitation, pollution, and climate change have damaged the country’s coral reefs, mangrove forests, and endangered species.
“As a result, there is a threat to the food security, fisheries, marine conservation, and tourism. Obligasyon po ng bawat isa na protektahan ito (It is the obligation of each one of us to protect it),” Lee said in his message during the Multi-Stakeholders Consultation-Workshop on Mainstreaming Blue Economy organized by the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation of Legazpi City held in Legazpi, Albay recently.
“By protecting our seas we are protecting the sea-based livelihoods of our countrymen. Kung wala silang kita, how will they feed their families? How will they take care of their loved ones if they get sick?”
Lee explained that through HB 8893, the government must (1) adopt a blue economy framework for the sustainable development and safe use of marine wealth within the country’s maritime zones; (2) exercise stewardship of the seas and coasts, protect and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats, preserve the maritime heritage, and foster international cooperation; and (3) ensure a whole-of-nation approach to the stewardship of the seas and coasts.
If this measure is passed into law, the National Maritime Council shall be established to coordinate the implementation to balance economic growth and environmental conservation
The Council is mandated to formulate a Policy Framework on Blue Economy, which will serve as the basis for marine spatial planning, determination of investments to enhance maritime domain awareness, and enforcement of economic and environmental regulations within the country’s maritime zones. The Policy Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and modification every five years.
Among the components of the Policy Framework are: (1) review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities; (2) adherence to international maritime laws and protocols; (3) analysis of current and emerging trends and changes in demography, consumption, trade, technology and climate that show the interaction between the economy and the environment, and present threats and pressures on coastal and marine environments; (4) environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and resources, and ecosystem services from coastal and marine environments; and (5) priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic activities. Maricel V. Cruz