SEN. Imee Marcos yesterday urged her colleagues to support a resolution concurring on the ratification of an agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
“Today, I submit to our chamber Committee Report No. 1, sponsoring herewith Senate Resolution No. 127. This agreement, better known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction or BBNJ Agreement, is the first treaty to protect the world’s high seas and the third agreement intended to implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or Unclos,” Marcos said in her sponsorship speech.
She said the agreement was adopted by the international community in 2023 or after two decades of negotiations, which seeks to protect and sustain marine diversity in areas beyond their national jurisdiction.
“Note, this is neither the nation’s contiguous waters nor their Exclusive Economic Zones, but rather, those vast high seas and deep-sea areas that cover nearly two-thirds of the planet. For the Philippine archipelago straddles not merely the much-controverted South China Sea, our West Philippine Sea, but also the vastness of the great Pacific Ocean on our eastern seaboard,” she added.
Marcos, Committee on Foreign Relations chair, said the treaty will ensure that financial gains derived from marine genetic resources “are to be shared equally among states” which can be an advantage to the country’s scarce research funding.
She said that under the agreement, the country will have access to the latest and most comprehensive marine databases of research institutions of developed countries and advanced oceanographic technology, which will benefit the government.
“The second pillar of this treaty concerns Area-Based Management Tools, including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), a topic that caused much consternation following China’s announcement last week that it was setting up a ‘3,500-hectare nature reserve in Huangyan Island’ — now, note that this is our Scarborough Shoal,” she said.
Marcos said BBNJ will provide “another platform” for the Philippines to push back diplomatically and legally against those who are encroaching on the country’s territory.
She said the third “pillar” of the treaty requires environmental impact assessments (EIAs) even in waters controlled or under the jurisdiction of a state to mitigate the impact of exploitation of marine genetic resources, gas exploration underwater, submarine cables, or other activities “with transboundary effects.”
“Public notification, consultation of concerned governments, private sector and even Ips will be undertaken in addition to preparing publicly available reports,” she added.
Marcos said the treaty will also involve capacity-building and technology transfer, thus providing states access to scientific knowledge and technical operations.
“Finally, the treaty will establish both a Voluntary Trust Fund and Special Fund, also offering the Global Environment Facility or GEF granting fund for biodiversity projects, climate and international water initiatives,” she said.
She added that the trust and special funds will also benefit not only Filipino fisherfolk, but Filipino scientists and students, as well, by way of retraining, providing fresh capital and new technology, and direct employment.
“The Philippines was among the first signatories of the BBNJ in 2023. Let us hurry today to join the first 60 signatories who will determine upon the immediate convening of the Conference of the Parties, the policies, rules, guidelines, and even appointments of officials who will implement the BBNJ,” she added.
Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate will take the matter up today, Wednesday.
