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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Maritime protection among PH's priorities in ASEAN 2026 chairship—DFA chief

Maritime protection among PH's priorities in ASEAN 2026 chairship—DFA chief

Published Sep 3, 2025 02:14 pm
DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro (Photo from DFA)
DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro (Photo from DFA)
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro revealed that maritime protection and concerns will be one of the priorities that the Philippines will pursue in its chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.

In her message for the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) on Tuesday, Sept. 3, the DFA chief underscored the connectedness of people and the environment and the need to “thrive together in meaningful co-existence.”

“This is the spirit with which we work together with international partners and friends to address existential threats that recognize no border, such as sea-level rise, climate change, degradation of our coral reefs, and marine plastics pollution,” she said.

She also noted how the Philippines raised the importance of “ocean literacy especially among the youth, preserve the marine environment, including through addressing marine plastic pollution, and uphold the primacy of the UN (United Nations) Convention on the Law of the Sea” during the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in June and underscored the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, or Life Below Water.

“Such is the Philippines unstinting advocacy that marine and maritime concerns, particularly the protection of the marine environment, will be a key priority of the Philippines chairship of ASEAN in 2026,” Lazaro stressed.

The official shared that the DFA, including all its foreign service posts and consular offices, is scheduled to hold activities to increase awareness of the country’s maritime and archipelagic nature.

“Through these activities, we hope to develop in every Filipino a shared sense of responsibility on the need to preserve our maritime heritage,” the DFA chief said.

Through Proclamation No. 316 (2017), the MANAMo is commemorated every September, offering an opportunity for Filipinos to reflect on the importance of their maritime domain.

“For this year's celebration, we invite our Filipino community all over the world to work together for a sustainable, secure, and thriving ocean,” Lazaro added.

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Ma. Theresa Lazaro DFA ASEAN Summit maritime protection
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