Senator Loren Legarda has reaffirmed her commitment to marine conservation, sustainable development, and women’s empowerment in a recent discussion on the significance of the “Blue Economy” in Makati City.

Legarda was guest during the “Blue Horizons – Accelerating the UK-Philippines Partnership for a Sustainable Blue Economy” panel discussion at The Conservatory, Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati City.

Hosted by the British Embassy Manila in honor of the visit of UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. David Lammy, the panel discussion focused on advancing biodiversity and ocean protection.

As a principal author and sponsor of the Blue Economy bill or Senate Bill No. 2450, Legarda underscored the need to ensure proper ocean accounting and environmental valuation, stressing the need to ensure that economic sustainability and ecological conservation must go hand in hand.

“How can a Filipino, born in an archipelago where 64 out of 82 provinces are coastal and where more than 32,000 kilometers of shoreline define our nation, not see the ocean as central to our identity and survival?” Legarda remarked.

The senator further emphasized that SBN 2450 was designed to complement the Philippine Environment and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS), another law she championed.

“The Blue Economy Bill, complemented by the PENCAS Law, ensures that we track, measure, and assign value to our coral reefs, mangroves, and coastal resources. Only by doing so can we fully understand what we own and what we must protect.”

She also warned against attempts to dilute the Blue Economy bill.

“I will not allow its core principles be mangled, destroying the natural habitat of fish and abandoning our fisherfolk,” she said.

At the same time, Legarda cited women’s contribution and role in ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries as the event also marked the celebration of International Women’s Day.

In order for women’s voices to be heard in these discussions, Legarda pushed for greater economic access, financial support, and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).

At the same time, she called for concrete solutions, including providing women with greater financial access through agencies like the DTI, DENR, and DA, ensuring that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in coastal areas receive support.

“As the author and sponsor of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), I want to ensure that more women in local communities, particularly in coastal areas, gain access to funding without excessive bureaucracy,” Legarda said.

“There’s so much to be done, but the first step is breaking barriers to access…Only by equipping women with education, capital, and innovation can we truly build a resilient and inclusive Blue Economy,” she stressed.