The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing forward with plans to institutionalize ocean governance through the establishment of an Ocean Environment Bureau, with the full organization of its Ocean Environment Task Force (OETF) expected by the second quarter of 2025.
The DENR made the announcement during the “Strengthening Philippines-France Cooperation for a Sustainable Blue Economy” forum organized by the Stratbase Institute and the French Embassy in the Philippines.
Environment Undersecretary and OETF Vice Chairperson Augusto Dela Peña said the initiative is part of the agency’s goal to enhance marine conservation efforts through structural reform within the DENR.
“Our goal is to drive organizational transformation within DENR for more effective ocean conservation. To achieve this vision, we have established the roadmap for the full organization of the Task Force in Q2 2025,” Dela Peña said in a statement.
The OETF is tasked with improving ocean governance, aligning national policies with global environmental commitments, and using scientific research to guide decision-making. Once fully operational, it is expected to evolve into a permanent bureau under the DENR.
At the forum, experts underscored the need for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to developing the country’s blue economy.
Such includes engagement with policymakers, local communities, the private sector, and international allies such as France.
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said the blue economy is central to both countries’ goals in environmental protection and sustainable development.
“Our shared responsibility is to combine economic development with environmental protection. France is fully committed to this dynamic, bringing its expertise in marine resource management, innovation for sustainable ocean exploitation, and the fight against illegal fishing,” Fontanel said.
“We are convinced that dialogue and the sharing of best practices are key to building a future where economic growth and marine ecosystem preservation go hand in hand,” she added.
Stratbase Institute President Dindo Manhit said the growing cooperation with France reflects the Philippines’ readiness to explore the full potential of its marine resources.
“France, with its extensive experience in developing its blue economy, is a natural ally or partner in this endeavor. The avenues for discussion and collaborations are as vast as the potential of our seas,” Manhit said.
“We have now identified this growth area, bolstered by pronouncement from the executive and initiatives from the legislature. Now we are emboldened by the show of cooperation and partnership by an established blue nation in France, and driven by a desire to maximize the benefits of our resources and channel them to the ultimate good of the Philippine people,” he added.
Eric Banel, the director general of Maritime Affairs, Fisheries, and Aquaculture for the government of France, pointed to fisheries as a key area of focus ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June, which France will host.
“It will be a main aspect of UNOC in June… We want to do as much as we can to push value fishing as a strong issue, as a main issue in these regional bodies. And we want to know the kind of economic loss, especially for small scale fisheries,” Banel said.
He also noted that strengthening maritime surveillance will be critical in tackling illegal activities at sea.
“We’ve got a very big challenge with having this surveillance in place through satellite devices because we need to know what happens in our seas… We need to have eyes on the sea to be able to act against illegal fishing, to act against every kind of trafficking, and to assess everything where it must be assessed,” he said.