MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for greater government support for the fisheries sector as the Senate took up a resolution to ratify a new international agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

During his interpellation of Senator Imee Marcos’ resolution endorsing the ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), Pangilinan said Filipino fishers remain among the poorest despite the country’s rich aquatic resources.

“Malaki ang kailangan habulin ng sektor ng agrikultura at fisheries sa ating bansa. We welcome this treaty ratification,” he said.

Pangilinan stressed that proper interventions could transform the Philippines into a major player in aquatic resource development. “Kung tama ang ating interventions, hindi tayo dapat small time, lalo na sa larangan ng aquatic resources development,” he said.

The senator cited the Verde Island Passage, located at the heart of the Coral Triangle, as one of the world’s most productive ecosystems that sustains over two million people. He lamented that despite the country’s abundance, local fishers continue to struggle, while neighbors like Thailand have become global leaders in exports such as canned tuna.

“It is disheartening that we are the richest in aquamarine biodiversity but our fishers, the poorest sector, are not given the interventions needed to improve their quality of life,” Pangilinan said.

The BBNJ Agreement seeks to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It covers four key issues: marine genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits; area-based management tools such as marine protected areas; environmental impact assessments; and capacity-building and technology transfer.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Pangilinan has consistently pushed for food security, rural development, and support for farmers and fisherfolk.