The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), through the Office of the Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs (OULA), successfully wrapped up its two-day Blue Economy Inter-Agency Roundtable Discussion (RTD) in Mandaluyong City, uniting key stakeholders to chart a sustainable marine and coastal economic future for the country.
Anchored on the theme “Bughaw-Tanaw: Diving into the Philippine Blue Economy Vision,” the high-level gathering convened over 100 leaders and representatives from public sector agencies, academia, civil society, and international development partner institutions. The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to building a unified, resilient, and sustainable national Blue Economy Framework.
The final day of the discussion focused heavily on Blue Economic Stewardship and a Framework for Resilience and Environmental Regeneration. Deliberations centered on four key pillars crucial to the national agenda:
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Marine Science & Innovation: Harnessing cutting-edge research and technologies to monitor, protect, and manage ocean ecosystems.
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Blue Finance: Cultivating sustainable investment streams and funding mechanisms for coastal and marine projects.
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Environmental Sustainability: Ensuring ecological integrity while maximizing economic value from marine resources.
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Community Empowerment: Guaranteeing that coastal communities and frontline sectors directly benefit from blue growth initiatives.
Throughout the two-day event, participants evaluated future governance models, identified mechanisms to strengthen inter-agency coordination, and explored strategic policy and legislative measures needed to establish a solid legal foundation for the blue economy.
The outcomes of the RTD will directly inform upcoming legislative proposals and executive strategies designed to transition the Philippines toward a sustainable ocean-based economy.
