Senator Loren B. Legarda has pledged to secure the Senate’s ratification of the landmark Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and to push for the passage of the Blue Economy Act, embedding ocean health into national economic planning.
Speaking at “Ocean Talk: Key Takeaways of the Philippines from the 2025 UN Ocean Conference” held on August 13 at the GSIS Financial Center, Legarda underscored the urgent need for decisive, united action to protect Philippine seas, which she called “the soul of our archipelago” and a lifeline for millions of Filipinos.
“Commitments, no matter how eloquently spoken in conference halls, must be made real in our barangays,” she stressed, said to translate international pledges into domestic policy and practice.
The senator reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to uphold maritime rights under UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award, while urging unprecedented cooperation among government, science, business, and civil society.
“The Philippines has led and will continue to lead in ocean protection and climate action, but our most significant victories are yet to be won, if we dare to do more, together,” she said.
The symposium, organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with the Office of Senator Legarda, the Climate Change Commission, and GSIS, brought together Philippine delegates from the June UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
Among those present were Ambassador of France to the Philippines Marie Fontanel, DFA Undersecretary and incoming Philippine Ambassador to France Eduardo Jose A. De Vega, and Climate Change Commission Vice Chair and Executive Director Robert EA Borje.
A panel discussion followed, with experts from DFA’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Biodiversity Management Bureau, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, Sulubaai Environmental Foundation, and the High Seas Alliance.
They stressed the urgency of ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and turning policy commitments into measurable outcomes for ocean science, governance, and marine protection.
Ocean Talk reaffirmed the Philippines’ leadership in ocean and climate diplomacy, highlighting the country’s unique cultural, ecological, and geopolitical ties to the seas.
