Manila, March 29 -- Senator Loren Legarda reaffirmed her support for stronger Philippines-France collaboration in advancing a sustainable blue economy.

"Our blue economy is more than a policy direction. It is a moral and developmental imperative," the four-term lawmaker said in a forum in Makati on Friday.

"It is the lifeblood of our coastal communities, a driver of growth, and a safeguard for our planet's future," she added.

The event, co-organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Embassy of France in the Philippines, comes ahead of the 3rd United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Nice, France on June 9 to 13.

It brought together key stakeholders from the government, diplomatic community, academe, and think tanks to discuss the chal...