Senator Pangilinan files bill for protection of marine ecosystem

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a bill seeking to promote the sustainable development of the country’s maritime resources.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1840, also known as the Blue Economy Act, Pangilinan said that this is part of his advocacy of protecting the Philippines’ marine ecosystem and biodiversity, which support the livelihoods of millions of Filipino fisherfolk in coastal communities.

Filed on February 11, 2026, the proposed measure seeks “to improve coordination, direct investments toward sustainable (marine) activities.” It also aims to “ensure that economic gains from the marine and maritime domain are sustained without undermining ocean health that supports long-term growth for current and future generations of Filipinos.”

Under SBN 1840, a Blue Economy Council will be created to develop an integrated strategy to strengthen, expand, and sustain the Philippines’ blue economy.

The council will be responsible for crafting the Blue Economy Framework—a development model that will serve as the roadmap “for a diversified and sustainable ocean economy in a manner that provides long-term economic and social benefits while building resilience to climate change and without compromising the safety of our marine ecosystems.”

The bill likewise highlights the role of key government financial and regulatory institutions, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Development Bank of the Philippines, in fostering investments by creating an enabling regulatory environment and extending credit to enterprises engaged in sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related activities.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, emphasized the crucial role of the fisheries sector and ocean-based industries in ensuring food security and strengthening the national economy.

“The Philippines is a maritime nation. Our seas are not only a source of food but also of livelihood, culture, and national identity,” he said. 

“We must ensure that economic activities in our marine ecosystems are sustainable, science-based, and inclusive,” he added.