FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro yesterday said maritime protection will be among the agency’s top priorities when the country chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.
“This is the spirit with which we work together with international partners and friends to address existential threats that recognize no border, such as sea-level rise, climate change, degradation of our coral reefs, and marine plastics pollution,” Lazaro said in as a message for the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) where she underscored the connectedness of people and the marine environment.
“Such is the Philippines advocacy that marine and maritime concerns, particularly the protection of the marine environment, will be a key priority of the Philippines chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026,” she added.
Lazaro said the country’s embassies and consulates will hold symposiums and seminars to increase awareness of the country’s maritime and archipelagic nature as part of the MANAMo commemoration. Earlier, Lazaro said Manila’s priorities when it hosts the ASEAN Summit are peace and security, maritime cooperation and how to address climate change.
