MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda is calling on Congress to strengthen laws protecting the Philippines’ vast marine resources, arguing that the country must do more than simply assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea—it must ensure that Filipinos can safely and sustainably benefit from the resources within the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Legarda said lawmakers should establish a clear legal and policy framework that would allow the Philippines to develop and manage its marine resources through legal, peaceful and productive economic activities. Her position comes amid renewed attention on how the country can translate its maritime rights into tangible benefits for Filipino communities, particularly fisherfolk and coastal populations.
At the center of the push is the proposed Blue Economy Act, which seeks to create a framework for sustainable investment and development in the country’s marine sector. Legarda has said such a framework could provide clearer direction not only for investors but also for coastal communities seeking new economic opportunities from the Philippines’ seas.
More Than a Territorial Issue: A Fight Over Food, Livelihoods and Resources
The debate over the West Philippine Sea is often framed as a geopolitical and territorial dispute. But for Legarda, the issue is also about food security, livelihoods and the long-term protection of marine ecosystems.
Earlier this year, she warned that weakened safeguards for small-scale fisherfolk could expose them to greater competition and threaten communities dependent on fishing. She also linked the protection of maritime rights to the everyday welfare of Filipinos who rely on the country’s waters for survival and income.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, has also called for stronger laws to promote transparency, environmental protection, fair sharing of benefits and safeguards against the illegal exploitation of Philippine marine resources, according to the latest report.
The message emerging from Congress is increasingly clear: protecting Philippine waters is not enough if Filipinos are unable to fully and sustainably benefit from what those waters provide.
Existing Laws Provide a Legal Foundation
The Philippines has already taken significant legislative steps. The Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act No. 12064) and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (Republic Act No. 12065), signed into law in 2024, strengthened the country’s legal framework for defining maritime zones and protecting national interests and marine resources.
The Maritime Zones Act, in particular, provides a clearer domestic legal basis for the Philippines to exercise jurisdiction and sovereign rights over areas including its EEZ and continental shelf.
Legarda has also emphasized the importance of strengthening and modernizing the Philippine Coast Guard, arguing that a capable maritime force is essential not only for national security but also for protecting fisherfolk and responding to threats against marine resources.
Environmental Protection Adds Another Layer to the Challenge
The push for stronger protection is also gaining momentum on the environmental front. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has recently moved toward securing ecologically important areas in the Kalayaan Island Group as Marine Protected Areas, citing their importance to biodiversity, fisheries and the wider marine ecosystem.
This highlights a crucial challenge for policymakers: how can the Philippines maximize the economic potential of its marine resources without destroying the ecosystems that sustain them?
That is where the proposed Blue Economy framework could become a defining test of Philippine maritime policy. Advocates envision a system that promotes economic development while placing sustainability, environmental protection and community welfare at its core.
The Bigger Question: Can the Philippines Turn Rights Into Real Benefits?
The Philippines’ maritime position is supported by international law, including the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award, which rejected the legal basis for China’s sweeping claims based on so-called historic rights and affirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under UNCLOS. Legarda has repeatedly stressed that the ruling is closely tied to the safety, livelihoods and future of Filipino fisherfolk.
But possessing legal rights and being able to exercise them effectively are two different challenges.
With proposals ranging from the Blue Economy Act to measures supporting West Philippine Sea studies and the commemoration of the July 12 arbitral victory, lawmakers are now facing growing pressure to turn policy declarations into lasting action.
The Philippines has the resources. It has a stronger legal framework. It has internationally recognized maritime rights.
The question now is whether Congress and the government can build a system strong enough to protect those resources—and finally ensure that the people who depend on them are the ones who truly benefit.
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