Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro is seeking the passage of a bill that would protect the country’s marine resources to spur productivity.
Yamsuan filed the proposed Blue Economy Act which provides for a whole-of-nation approach in achieving these twin goals at a time when climate change and man-made activities continue to threaten the country’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
“The passage of this Act is among the key legislative priorities under the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The reason behind this focus is evident: as an archipelagic country, it is high time that the Philippines prioritize its marine resources and leverage them to cultivate a robust economy, while contributing meaningfully to global efforts in sustainability,” Yamsuan said.
The bill has been sent to the Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting of the House Committee on Economic Affairs.
The proposed Blue Economy Act as outlined under House Bill (HB) 8708 was filed by Yamsuan along with Camarines Sur Representatives LRay Villafuerte, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata.
During the TWG meeting, the measure was consolidated with House Bills 69, 8669, 8720, 8816 and 8893 which also seek to establish a Blue Economy policy framework. These bills were filed by Representatives Francisco Benitez of Negros Occidental’s 3rd District, Gus Tambunting of Paranaque’s 2nd District, Antonio Legarda Jr. of Antique’s Lone District, Ferdinand Alexander Marcos of Ilocos Norte’s 1st District, and Wilbert Lee of AGRI Partylist.
With the Philippines being the world’s second largest archipelagic state and with a coastline spanning 32,289 kilometers, the country can become a leader in sustainably growing the blue economy, Yamsuan said.
Under the still unnumbered substitute bill consolidating the six Blue Economy measures, the National Coast Watch Council will be reconstituted as the National Maritime Council.
The new Council is tasked under the bill to formulate an integrated development plan on marine spatial planning, the determination of investments to enhance maritime domain awareness and the preservation of value and sustainability of the Philippines’ ocean resources.
Yamsuan said the proposed Blue Economy framework also aims to enrich scientific understanding of the Philippines’ marine and coastal ecosystems to ensure informed decision making affecting its seas and coasts, and enhance the nation’s capacity to respond and adapt to changing maritime environments.
The Blue Economy framework would, among others, facilitate the review existing policies, plans, programs and regulations on ocean-based and -related activities; adhere to international maritime laws, and analyze current and emerging trends that could change or threaten coastal and marine environments.
It would also initiate an environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets to assess losses due to pollution; prioritize strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic activities, promote ocean literacy; enhance the capabilities of the military to enforce laws and protect marine wealth; and provide a guiding framework for blue finance.
The measure provides for an initial funding of P100 million for the Council to be sourced from the Office of the President’s Contingency Fund. The Council’s succeeding budget would be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), as provided under the substitute bill.