PH Pushes for Conservation, Sustainable use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 

The Philippine Delegation to the BBNJ Agreement Dialogue Series for ASEAN Member States. (DFA-MOAO photo)

PASAY CITY 19 April 2021 – Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) Maria Angela A. Ponce reaffirmed the Philippines’ support for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), during the virtual webinar “The BBNJ Agreement Dialogue Series for ASEAN Member States,” on 14 April 2021, organized by the Centre for International Law (CIL) of the National University of Singapore (NUS), together with Hanoi Law University, and with support from The High Seas Alliance. 

In her statement, Assistant Secretary Ponce underlined the principle of the common heritage of mankind to guide the new legal regime for BBNJ, including access to and sharing of benefits of marine genetic resources. She further mentioned that “due regard must be given to the rights and jurisdiction of adjacent coastal States, like the Philippines, and thus, any activity that impacts areas beyond national jurisdiction, directly or indirectly, must be communicated to adjacent coastal States.”

Assistant Secretary Ponce expressed the Philippines’ appreciation to the organizers of the webinar, and highlighted the importance of finding possible convergence of positions among ASEAN Member States, including the special recognition to environmentally vulnerable States. 

The Philippine delegation was composed of representatives from MOAO, the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), DA – Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), DENR – Environment Management Bureau (EMB), De La Salle University, University of the Philippines (UP) – Marine Science Institute (MSI), and UP – Institute of Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea. END