Former Finance Secretary Roberto F. de Ocampo, who is also chairman of the FVR Legacy Initiative, has called for the modernization of of fishing infrastructure and expansion of cold storage facilities in the country to bolster food security and elevate the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolks.
The FVR Legacy Initiative, in partnership with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, recently convened the inaugural Roundtable Discussion on the Philippine Blue Economy, spotlighting the urgent need to modernize the nation’s fishing industry while safeguarding its marine ecosystems.
“We must move beyond traditional bancas and outriggers to something more elevated,” De Ocampo urged, advocating for government-backed modernization programs.
He further proposed that cold storage investments—whether through local government initiatives, provincial funding, or international partnerships—could significantly reduce post-harvest losses, which studies estimate cost the sector up to 25 percent of its yield annually.
De Ocampo also called for bilateral agreements to secure financing and foster business collaborations, aligning with global efforts to ensure food security amid rising demand.
Echoing this call for sustainable progress, Professor Ben Malayang III, a leading authority on archipelagic ecology, warned against overexploiting marine resources.
“If we are not careful and we extract more than the capacity of the ocean to replenish the population of these living things, then you will consume outright and destroy the ecosystem’s balance in our oceans. The end game, the end goal of conservation, is really sustainability.” he cautioned.
Malayang, whose expertise spans fisheries and environmental governance, highlighted the Philippines’ unique position as an archipelago with seven times more sea than land. Yet, he noted a stark imbalance in resource allocation and opined that public investments heavily favor land-based sectors like real estate, while the blue economy remains underexplored.”
Malayang also decried the competitive mindset dominating marine resource use, advocating for a collaborative approach.
“We don’t see any collaboration. We must look at the sea and our coastal areas as a global commons rather than a place for competition, “he said, urging policymakers to foster regional cooperation.
His remarks align with recent findings from the Asian Development Bank, which underscore the potential of blue economy initiatives to generate sustainable growth across Southeast Asia, provided nations prioritize conservation and equitable resource sharing.
The roundtable, held against the backdrop of the pending Blue Economy Act in Congress, underscored the economic weight of the Philippines’ ocean-based industries.
