Senators Loren Legarda and Risa Hontiveros have renewed their call for the passage of the proposed Blue Economy Act, urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to include it among his legislative priorities in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28.
Legarda, the principal author of the bill in the Senate, emphasized that the measure offers a path to sustainable economic growth by harnessing the country’s rich marine resources while ensuring environmental protection and coastal community resilience.
“As we look ahead to President Marcos Jr.’s 4th SONA, I’m hopeful that key measures we’ve already filed, like the proposed Blue Economy Act, will be recognized as national priorities,” Legarda said Thursday.
The Senate passed the Blue Economy bill in August 2023, and a counterpart measure was approved by the House the same year. However, the 19th Congress adjourned on June 30 without the measure being enacted into law.
Legarda, a longtime environmental advocate, committed to re-filing and pursuing the measure in the 20th Congress.
“We’re committed to pushing for the immediate passage of this and other measures that respond directly to the needs of our people,” she said.
Hontiveros, a co-author of the bill, also hopes the proposed law will gain traction during the President’s address.
“I’m very supportive of the Blue Economy Bill… because we are truly a maritime and archipelagic nation,” she said in a Senate interview. “It’s not just about the West Philippine Sea; it’s also about protecting our fisherfolk and marine ecosystems.”
The Blue Economy Bill aims to institutionalize policies and programs that ensure the sustainable development of marine and aquatic resources while strengthening the rights and welfare of coastal communities and fisherfolk.
In addition to the Blue Economy Bill, Legarda is pushing for other proposed measures, including:
– The Living Wage Act, requiring government agencies to adopt wages that meet a decent standard of living;
– The Pangkabuhayan Act, providing support for unemployed and underemployed Filipinos through a one-stop enterprise system;
– The Complementarity in Education Act, promoting collaboration between public and private schools to widen access to quality education;
– The Open Government Data Act and Results-Based Governance Act, designed to increase transparency and accountability in government.
“We hope the SONA not only celebrates progress but also creates space for bold and forward-looking reforms that can truly uplift the lives of Filipinos,” Legarda said.