LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) seminar underscored the pressing need for coastal communities in Southeast Asia to be integrated into national and local development strategies through the blue economy.
The Agriculture and Development Seminar Series on August 20 that featured Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University presented insights on rethinking coastal poverty amid emerging economic opportunities.
Ablan-Lagman emphasized that Southeast Asia's oceans possess immense potential for sustainable growth that is both inclusive and equitable.
Titled "From Margins to Mainstream: Rethinking Coastal Poverty in the Age of the Blue Economy," her presentation underscored the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration in developing innovative solutions for the communities.
"Critical thinking is very hard to develop in a room full of people from the same discipline," noted Ablan-Lagman, challenging attendees—students, researchers, and government officials alike—to embrace diverse viewpoints.
She highlighted that while the ocean economy in the Philippines has been expanding at nearly double the national growth rate of 9.9 percent, its contribution to the country's GDP remains alarmingly low at only 3.6 percent to 3.9 percent.
Ablan-Lagman pointed out that many coastal residents in the region continue to face persistent poverty, vulnerable to low incomes and unpredictable climate impacts.
"Despite being situated next to rich marine resources, small-scale fishers and aquaculture workers remain largely excluded from the development process," she said, citing structural and multi-generational aspects of poverty driven by economic marginalization and policy neglect.
To address these systemic challenges, she proposed actionable strategies for fostering a transformative blue economy.
Her recommendations included enhancing value chain processes, implementing certifications to improve product quality and market access, and leveraging digital platforms to connect fishers directly with consumers, thereby reducing reliance on exploitative intermediaries.
Lagman also urged diversification of aquaculture and seaweed products to broaden market opportunities.
"Sustainable innovations must not only minimize environmental impact but also be appealing and profitable for coastal households," she pointed out, reinforcing the importance of financial viability to successful development interventions.
The seminar made a call to action for young scholars and practitioners from various backgrounds to leverage their expertise in reimagining the future of Southeast Asia's coastal communities.
Ablan-Lagman reiterated the need for interventions to be reflective of local realities, underscoring the importance of inclusive policies and innovative thinking in the pursuit of sustainable development.