House panel approves bill to develop country’s blue economy
By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter
A HOUSE panel on Tuesday has approved a measure creating a framework to utilize and preserve the Philippines’ ocean-based resources, a priority measure expected for Congress approval this year.
Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Francisco B. Benitez, who headed the technical working group (TWG) that fine-tuned the bill, said the proposed Blue Economy Act seeks to “redefine our relationship with our marine waters and create a path to sustainable and inclusive development of our marine resources.”
Blue economy is an economic model seeking the sustainable utilization of ocean resources through green infrastructure and technology. Vietnam, Indonesia and China have been “aggressively developing” their blue economies.
Under the measure, the National Coast Watch System, which is currently limited to coordinating maritime security policies and patrols, will be renamed into the National Maritime Monitoring System that will have the National Maritime Council, National Maritime Office, and the National Maritime Coordination Center as its attached offices to harmonize policies.
“It is necessary to reorganize and strengthen the National Coast Watch System and reorient government policy towards sustainable development of our marine and coastal resources and ensure the health of our aquatic ecosystems,” Mr. Benitez said.
Mr. Benitez told the House Committee on Economic Affairs that reclamation activities, oil and gas exploration and extraction, and submarine mining have been excluded from the list of priority maritime activities.
“But considering that these activities become necessary to a certain extent, we included a clause that provides for a mechanism for the National Maritime Council to evaluate the environmental impact of such activities,” he said. A clause was added for the integration of environmental-economic accounting in the assessment.
Negros Occidental Rep. Gerardo P. Valmayor, Jr., who heads the committee, acknowledged that “the Philippines, being the world’s second largest archipelagic state with extensive maritime domain, should pursue ocean-based and ocean-related activities that are economically sustainable.”
The Philippine territory is approximately 88% maritime waters and maritime industries account for 3.6% of the gross domestic product (GDP), latest data from the Philippine Statistic Office show.
Last month, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said the Philippines produces 163 million plastic sachets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin-film bags daily, with 35% leaking into oceans and open environments.
Stressing the need to improve coastal and marine resource management, Mr. Benitez said: “If we do not act now, our marine wealth will be lost due to damage from overexploitation and pollution.”
The bill is included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) list of priority measures. A similar measure is pending in a Senate committee.
