“Blue economy means building industries, creating jobs, and feeding our people”
In national discourses about sustainable growth—food security, jobs, energy—we often look inland: to our farms, factories, and roads.
But as an archipelagic nation, we can no longer afford to overlook our seas. The ocean has shaped our history, fed our people, and is key to many of our most pressing challenges. Ignoring it means ignoring both who we are and what we could become.
At the recent forum “Strengthening Philippines-France Cooperation for a Sustainable Blue Economy,” policymakers, scientists, business leaders, and international partners came together to talk not just about protecting our marine ecosystems, but about treating them as vital engines of growth.
The event, part of the Blue Talks series, was organized by the Stratbase Institute and the French Embassy in the Philippines.
The blue economy, from a Philippine perspective, is a development strategy that draws on our vast marine resources to drive inclusive growth, secure food and energy, and protect ocean health for future generations.
It means building industries, creating jobs, and feeding our people – while safeguarding the ecosystems that make it all possible.
Senator Loren Legarda highlighted that the ocean economy already contributes over P787 billion to our GDP, or 4.05 percent annually, and supports more than 2.2 million jobs.
These aren’t projections—they’re hard numbers. But we’ve yet to optimize this natural endowment as a sustainable economic driver.
Dr. Len Garces of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization pointed out that 2.5 million small-scale fishers operate in the country, with municipal fisheries producing over a million metric tons of fish each year.
But despite the scale, our marine ecosystems are under growing threat – from overfishing and pollution to climate change and rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
This is why the proposed Blue Economy Act (Senate Bill 2450) is critical. It offers a national framework to sustainably manage and develop our ocean resources.
Stratbase President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit urged its immediate passage, stating, “The Philippines stands at a crucial juncture. How we protect and sustainably develop our waters will determine whether our seas continue to sustain livelihoods, support local industries, and drive growth.”
Environment Undersecretary Augusto Dela Peña introduced the Ocean Environments Task Force, which will lead governance reforms, align policies with global standards, and use scientific data to guide decisions.
The Task Force is expected to be operational by mid-2025, with a national policy in place by 2026—laying the foundation for a future Ocean Environments Management Bureau.
For ordinary consumers, this means better-managed seas, more stable energy, secure jobs in coastal areas, and more affordable sea food for each household.
The private sector also has a central role, particularly the energy industry. Donnabel Kuizon Cruz, President and CEO of Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., emphasized that natural gas remains vital to a stable energy transition, bridging the gap to a future powered largely by renewables — expected to make up 70–75 percent of the energy mix by 2050.
Cruz highlighted how the Malampaya Consortium, through its environmental foundations, has created 58 marine protected areas, deployed artificial reefs, and funded biodiversity research in Palawan and Mindoro.
She also cited the recently signed Downstream Natural Gas Act, which incentivizes indigenous gas development, with the Department of Energy eyeing additional support for offshore exploration.
She proposed joint exploration models like unitized agreements to responsibly develop resources in strategic or disputed waters.
Projects like Malampaya also contribute to maritime security through partnerships like the Joint Task Force Malampaya – linking the Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy in protecting critical infrastructure.
But we can’t do this alone.
As Dr. Rhodora Azanza, marine scientist and professor, pointed out, the Philippines lacks both the manpower and equipment—like oceanographic vessels—to fully manage its waters. Collaboration with countries like France, with deep maritime expertise, is essential.
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel affirmed France’s commitment to supporting marine innovation and efforts to combat illegal fishing.
Mr. Eric Banel, France’s Director General for Maritime Affairs, emphasized that as blue nations and maritime economies, France and the Philippines share vast potential for job creation and economic growth in the ocean economy.
He expressed a strong desire for closer cooperation to maximize these opportunities.
The blue economy is a national imperative that touches every part of our daily lives.
It’s about the price of fish in the market, the stability of our electricity supply, the safety of our coastal communities, and the jobs linked the marine ecosystem. It’s about protecting what we already depend on, and unlocking what we’ve long overlooked.
As consumers, we benefit directly from healthy seas; as citizens, we have a stake in how they’re governed. Investing in our marine resources isn’t just smart economics – it’s strategic, sustainable nation-building.
The ocean surrounds us. It sustains us. And if we do this right, it can propel our prosperity.