TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL No. 2334
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, 
BRYAN B. REVILLA AND RAMON JOLO REVILLA III 
AN ACT 
ADOPTING INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT AS A NATIONAL 
STRATEGY FOR THE HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF 
COASTAL AND RELATED ECOSYSTEMS AND THE RESOURCES 
THEREIN, ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT 
ACTION PLAN, OTHER SUPPORTING MECHANISMS FOR 
IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines as an archipelagic nation is endowed with vast coastal and 
marine resources that are vital to its economy, food security and ecological balance. 
However, these ecosystems face increasing threats from rapid urbanization, 
overﬁshing, pollution, climate change, and uncoordinated development efforts. 
These challenges necessitate a cohesive, science-based, participatory management 
and whole-of-government approach.
This measure seeks to institutionalize Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) 
as a national strategy to ensure the sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient 
development of this country’s coastal and marine areas. ICM provides a sound 
public policy framework for the coordinated use, management, and protection of 
coastal and related ecosystems, considering both environmental and socio-
economic dimensions. It supports capacity-building, research, and community 
participation in order to ensure that stakeholders are informed, equipped, convinced 
and empowered.
Furthermore, the establishment of a National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan 
promotes the restoration and protection of natural greenbelts such as mangroves 
and beach forests, thus serving as vital buffers against coastal hazards.
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July 28, 2025
8:10 am


The passage of this bill will enable the country to strengthen its coastal 
governance, enhance climate adaptation efforts, and ensure the long-term viability of 
coastal ecosystems for future generations. 
Thus, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
REP. LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
Representative 
2nd District of Cavite
REP. BRYAN B. REVILLA 
Representative 
AGIMAT Partylist
REP. RAMON JOLO REVILLA III 
Representative 
1st District of   Cavite
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL No. 2334
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, 
BRYAN B. REVILLA AND RAMON JOLO REVILLA III 
AN ACT 
ADOPTING INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT AS A NATIONAL 
STRATEGY FOR THE HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF 
COASTAL AND RELATED ECOSYSTEMS AND THE RESOURCES 
THEREIN, ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT 
ACTION PLAN, OTHER SUPPORTING MECHANISMS FOR 
IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
the Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Integrated Coastal 
Management Act”. 
Sec. 2. Policy Statement - It shall be the policy of the State to ensure the sustainable 
management of the country's coastal and marine environment and resources by 
looking at the interconnectivity of ecosystems from the watersheds to the coastal and 
marine areas. Towards this end, it shall adopt Integrated Coastal Management as a 
framework in regulating different human activities, restoring or rehabilitating 
ecosystems, and ensuring a multi-stakeholder participation and ridge-to-reef 
approach to ecosystem management, with due consideration to ecological 
connectivity and their impact on social and ecological systems. The framework shall 
support the country's achievement of sustainable development, promotion of blue 
economy, food security, just transition to sustainable livelihood, poverty alleviation 
and its resilience and risk reduction from sea-level rise and other coastal stresses, 
while respecting the traditional resource rights of indigenous peoples and gender 
equality. 
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Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage. - The National Integrated Coastal Management 
Framework shall be Implemented in all local government units (LGUs) addressing 
the inter-linkages among ecosystems from ridge-to-reef, by all relevant government 
structures at the national and local levels in consultation and partnership with all 
stakeholders through participatory governance.  
  
Sec. 4. Deﬁnition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:  
  
a) Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to 
actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits 
beneﬁcial opportunities; 
  
b) Annual Investment Program (AIR) refers to the annual slice of the Local 
Development Investment Program (LDIP), which constitutes the total resource 
requirements for all programs, projects, and activities consisting of the annual capital 
expenditure and regular operating requirements of the LGU;  
  
c) Beach Forest refers to mixed association of creepers, shrubs, and trees above the 
high tide along the coast which fall into various groups morphologically based on the 
following forms: 
1) Herbaceous Beach - creepers with sand-binding abilities, e.g. Ipomoea 
pes-caprae; 
2) Beach shrub - shrubs and low trees, e.g. Scaevoiataccada, Dendroiobium 
umbeiiatum; 
3) Casuarina equisetifoiia (Agoho) Forest - common pioneer on sandy 
beaches; 
4) Mixed Littoral Forest - plentiful vines, palm and trees, e.g. Barringtonia 
asiatica, Millettia pinnata, and Pandanus tectorius. 
  
d) Biological diversity or Biodiversity refers to the variability among living organisms 
from all sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the 
ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, 
between species, and of ecosystems; 
  
e) Climate Change refers to change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly 
to human activity that alters the composition of global atmosphere and which is in 
addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods; 
  
f) Coastal area or zone refers to a band of dry land and adjacent ocean space (water 
and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect oceanic 
processes and uses, and vice versa) its geographic extent may include areas within 
a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include 
mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy 
beaches, and other areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters isobath to include 
coral reefs, algal ﬂats, seagrass beds, and other soft-bottom areas;  
  
g) Coastal greenbelts refer to at least 100-meter-wide strip of natural or planted 
coastal vegetation extending from the seaward edge of mangroves (middle intertidal 
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zone) towards land, or extending from the seaward edge of beach forest (high tide 
line) towards line, in cases where mangroves are absent. Its function is to absorb 
wave energy during storms, thereby reducing wave damage, preventing coastal 
erosion, and protecting lives and property;  
  
h) Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) refers to a six-year multi-sectoral plan 
formulated at the city or municipal level embodying the vision, sectoral goals, 
objectives, development strategies, and policies within the terms of ofﬁcials of the 
LGU, and the medium-term. It contains ecological proﬁle, sectoral development plan, 
and implementation instruments;  
  
i) Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) refers to the document formulated by the 
cities and municipalities, in consultation with its stakeholders, that deﬁnes or 
provides guidelines on the allocation, utilization, development, and management of 
all lands within a given territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent qualities of 
the land itself and supportive economic, demographic, socio-cultural and 
environmental objectives as deﬁned in Republic Act No. 11201, otherwise known as 
the "Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act."  
  
j)  Disaster Risk Reduction refers to the concept and practice of reducing disaster 
risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of 
disasters, through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people 
and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved 
preparedness for adverse events;  
  
k) Ecosystems services refer to the beneﬁts people obtain from the ecosystems, 
such as:  
1. Provisioning which refers to the services that provide food, water, timber 
and ﬁber; 
2. Regulating which refers to the services that affect climate, ﬂoods, diseases, 
wastes and water quality;  
3. Cultural which refers to the services that provide recreational, aesthetic, 
and spiritual beneﬁts; and 
4. Supporting which refers to the essential services such as soil formation, 
photosynthesis, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration.  
  
l) Holistic and sustainable management refers to the management of all components 
of the ecosystem and the services it provides in a way and at a rate that maintains 
and enhances its current state and resilience, thereby maintaining its potential to 
meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations. This approach 
involves all stakeholders in collaborative decision-making, including scientists, 
national and local government, private sector, local residents, and the public towards 
the protection, conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of the ecosystem and 
the resources therein;  
  
m) Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) refers to a holistic and integrative 
management that incorporates the following components: (1) connectivity of various 
ecosystems - environment and resources; (2) various sectors and stakeholders; (3) 
 5


institutional arrangements that are relevant; and (4) assessment of drivers of coastal 
ecosystem degradation, management planning and implementation, including 
research and education, to address coastal degradation and biodiversity losses, and 
to improve the well-being of communities in coastal and interconnected areas; 
 
n) Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) refers to the action plan formulated 
by LGUs to address climate change concerns. It focuses on both climate change 
adaption and mitigation and describes how LGUs plan to respond to the impacts of 
climate change and mainstream them into mandated local plans, i.e. land use plan, 
sectoral development plan. Investment program, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9729, 
or the "Climate Change Act of 2009," as amended; 
 
o) Mangrove forest refers to the forested wetland growing along tidal mudﬂats and 
along shallow water coastal areas extending inward along rivers, streams, and their 
tributaries where the water is generally brackish and composed of low elevation 
species such as Avicennia marina, A. alba, and Sonneratia caseolaris, Xybcarpus 
granatum and Nypa fruticans while the landward zone or areas with higher elevation 
are inhabited by Avicennia rumphiana, A. ofﬁcinalis, and Bruguiera gymnorhiza;  
p) Mitigation, in the context of climate change, refers to human intervention to 
address anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all 
greenhouse gases, including ozone-depleting substances and their substitutes;  
  
q) Municipal waters refer not only to streams, lakes, inland bodies of water, and tidal 
waters within the municipality which are not included within the protected areas as 
deﬁned under Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded National 
Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018", public forest, timber lands, forest 
reserves, or ﬁshery reserves, but also marine waters included between two (2) lines 
drawn perpendicular to the general coastline from points where the boundary lines of 
the municipality touch the sea at low tide and a third line parallel with the general 
coastline including offshore islands and ﬁfteen (15) kilometers from such coastline. 
Where two (2) municipalities are so situated on opposite shores and when with less 
than thirty (30) kilometers of marine waters between them, the third line shall be 
equally distant from opposite shore of the respective municipalities; 
  
r) Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) refers to the 
document formulated at the provincial level that merges the traditionally separate 
Provincial Physical Framework Plan and Provincial Development Plan to address the 
disconnect between spatial and sectoral factors and between medium- and long-
term concerns. It contains the long-term vision of the province, and identiﬁes 
development goals, strategies, objectives or targets and corresponding programs, 
projects, and activities which serve as primary inputs to provincial investment 
programming and subsequent budgeting and plan implementation;  
  
s) State of the Coasts (SoC) reporting system refers to an assessment tool for LGUs 
to be used in measuring the progress and beneﬁts of ICM implementation. It allows 
the LGUs to document and measure the effectiveness and impacts of policy and 
management interventions in support of sustainable coastal development and 
 6


evaluate progress towards local, national and international targets for sustainable 
development;  
  
t) Watershed refers to a land area drained by a stream or ﬁxed body of water and its 
tributaries having a common outlet for surface run-off. It is a topographically 
delineated area of land from which rainwater can drain as surface run-off, via a 
speciﬁc stream or river system to a common outlet point. It encompasses ridge-to-
reef areas and may include the uplands, lowlands, and coastal areas;  
  
u) Wetlands refer to a wide variety of inland habitats such as marshes, peatlands, 
ﬂoodplains, rivers and lakes, and coastal areas such as saltmarshes, mangroves, 
intertidal mudﬂats, and seagrass beds; and also coral reefs and other marine areas 
no deeper than six (6) meters at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as 
dams, reservoirs, rice paddies, and wastewater treatment ponds and lagoons.  
CHAPTER II 
INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 
Sec. 5. National ICM Council. - There is hereby established a National ICM Council 
(NIC) to coordinate the review and implementation of the National ICM Framework.  
The NIC shall be composed of the following:
CHAIRPERSON: 
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) 
CO-CHAIRPERSON: Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 
VICE CHAIRPERSON: Secretary of the Department of Science and 
     Technology (DOST) 
VICE CHAIRPERSON: Vice Chairperson,Climate Change Commission (CCC)
MEMBERS: 
1.  Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);  
2. Secretary, Department of Economy, Planning and Development 
(DEPDev); 
3.  Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT); 
4.  Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);  
5. Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
Development (DHSUD);  
6.  Chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council (NDRRMC); 
7.  Executive Director of the National Commission on Women (NCW); 
8.  Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); 
9.  Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); 
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10.  Director of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG); 
11.  Representative from the academe who specializes in ICM; 
12.  Representative from non-government organizations dealing with coastal 
management or ﬁsheries; 
13.  Representative from the private sector; 
14. Representative from artisanal ﬁsherfolk basic sector representative of the 
National Anti-Poverty Commission;  
15. Representative from the National or Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resource Management Councils (FARMCs); and,  
16.  Representative from any other organizations not mentioned above as the 
NIC may deem necessary.  
The ex-ofﬁcio members of the NIC may designate their respective permanent 
representatives to the NIC: Provided, That a permanent representative may 
designate a duly authorized representative whose rank shall in no case be lower 
than an Undersecretary and whose acts shall be considered as that of the 
permanent representative: Provided, further, That the process for designation of a 
permanent representative shall be detailed in the implementing rules and regulations 
of this Act: Provided, ﬁnally, That the authorized representative shall have no voting 
right, unless expressedly authorized to do so in writing.  
The representatives from the academe, civil society and other sectors shall 
possess relevant work experience and training in disciplines related to climate 
change, disaster risk reduction, natural resource management, or coastal 
management, and shall be appointed by the NIC from a list of nominees proposed by 
its member agencies. Each representative shall serve as a member of the NIC for a 
period of three (3) years, subject to renewal to be decided by the majority of the 
members of the NIC and shall perform the duties appurtenant thereto unless they 
resign or their representation is withdrawn by the sector that they represent. 
Appointment to any vacancy shall only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor.  
A National Technical Working Group (NTWG) shall be created for the 
coordination of the national scientiﬁc and technical matters, and to support the NIC in 
the implementation of its powers and functions under Section 8 of this Act.  
  
Sec. 6. Meetings of the National ICM Council. - The NIC shall meet once every three 
(3) months, or as often as may be deemed necessary.  
  
Sec. 7. Secretariat - The Chairperson, Secretary of the DENR, shall provide a 
permanent secretariat to the NIC, and may be augmented by the employees from 
member-agencies of the NIC, through detail or secondment. The Secretary of the 
DENR may also provide additional plantilla positions subject to the evaluation and 
approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and in compliance 
with the civil service laws, rules, and regulations.  
  
Sec. 8. Powers and Functions of the National ICM Council. - The NIC shall exercise 
and perform the following powers and functions:  
 8


a) Formulate, adopt, institutionalize, and amend, if necessary, the National 
ICM Framework, in consultation with other concerned agencies, LDC, 
sectors, and stakeholders, within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of 
this Act;  
b)  Identify and delineate, after prior consultation with the designated LDC 
representatives, the coastal, marine, and other resources shared by two or 
more LGUs, recommend and provide guidance on mainstreaming ICM into 
existing local plans and programs through their respective regional or 
provincial development councils, and assist the relevant authorities in 
resolving conﬂicts arising from ICM between or among LGUs;  
c)  Undertake baseline and periodic assessment and reporting of the state of 
coastal and marine environment and natural resources and the level of 
socioeconomic development of the adjacent communities, governance or 
management interventions and relevant infrastructures in place, among 
others;  
d) Identify capacity building programs and activities, in coordination with the 
DENR and the DILG, for national government, LGUs, and stakeholders, 
and pursue information, education, and communication (lEC) campaigns 
on ICM, and develop guidelines for mainstreaming the ICM into the 
development planning and investment programming processes of local 
governments;  
e) Develop guidelines for provinces sharing the same resources for the 
integrated management, protection, conservation, and restoration of the 
shared coastal and marine ecosystems, and reduce or eliminate the 
impacts of activities originating from upstream and downstream sources 
including government contracts and permits issued by the government 
such as foreshore lease agreements, forest management agreements, 
special land use permits and mining permits;  
f)  Ensure documentation, promotion and dissemination of iearnings and best 
practices on ICM implementation;  
g)  Facilitate the establishment of integrated data and monitoring systems 
using innovative technologies and develop a national ICM dashboard as 
the repository of data on ICM;  
h) Pursue the mobilization of sustainable ﬁnancing mechanisms for ICM from 
both public and private sectors funding institutions, among others;  
i)  Ensure adaptive management to consider new threats and emerging issues 
arising from changes in the socioeconomic, technological, and ecological 
landscape;  
j)  Recommend the issuance or passage of policies or legislation to the 
appropriate agency or the legislature;  
k) Ensure that the LGUs shall allocate adequate funds for the development 
and implementation of ICM programs and plans; and  
 9


l)  Create a National Technical Working Group in support of the NIC for the 
implementation of its powers and functions.  
  
 
All concerned national government agencies with mandates related to 
integrated coastal management shall provide support and assistance to the NIC and 
concerned stakeholders to ensure the timely and efﬁcient implementation of the 
National ICM Framework and its integration in existing plans.  
  
Sec. 9. Elements of the National ICM Framework. - The implementation of ICM-
responsive plans shall include the following elements in line with the ICM principles:  
a) Inter-agency, inter-LGU alliances, multi-sectoral mechanism to coordinate the 
efforts of different agencies, sectors and administrative levels;  
b) Peoples' participation in the formulation and implementation of the National ICM 
Framework while upholding and respecting their right to a balanced and healthful 
ecology, gender equality, especially those from the marginalized communities, 
indigenous peoples; and the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change 
and other hazards;  
c) Coastal and marine strategies including the designation, rehabilitation and 
reforestation, or afforestation of priority coastal greenbelts and action  
plans that provide a long-term vision and strategy for sustainable development and 
hazard prevention of the coastal and marine areas; and a ﬁxed-term program of 
actions specifying responsible agencies or institutions for addressing priority 
issues and concerns including improving existing endeavors to protect marine 
protected areas and other protected areas on or near coastal and marine zones, 
as deﬁned under Republic Act No. 11038;  
d) Public awareness programs to increase the level of understanding and 
appreciation of the value and beneﬁts derived from healthy and resilient coastal 
and marine resources and ecosystems of the area, and to promote a shared 
responsibility among stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the 
National ICM Framework;  
e) Mainstreaming the National ICM Framework into the national and local 
government planning and socio-economic development programs, and allocation 
of adequate ﬁnancial and human resources for its implementation;  
f) Capacity building programs and development of coastal and marine spatial 
planning tools, in coordination with the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), to enhance required human resource skills, 
scientiﬁc input to policy and planning processes, knowledge sharing; and 
enforcement and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with adopted 
rules, regulations, and guidelines;  
g) Integrated environmental and socio-economic impact monitoring for the purpose 
of measuring, evaluating, and reporting the status, progress, and impacts of 
management programs against established sustainable development indicators 
and basis for decision-making, public awareness, and performance evaluation;  
 
10


h) Investment opportunities and sustainable ﬁnancial mechanisms for environmental 
protection and improvement; resource conservation, and ecosystem-based 
adaptation and other nature-based solutions;  
i) Disaster risk reduction and management as well as climate change adaptation and 
mitigation programs, and vulnerability and risk assessment;  
j) Knowledge management, research, and development programs in such areas as 
carrying capacity, limits to acceptable change, and enhancement of the analytical 
and predictive value of scenarios for protecting a sustainable future;  
k) Development of a National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan for the protection of 
coastal biodiversity and habitats from the effects of climate change and the 
impacts of natural events such as typhoons, tsunamis, among others;  
I) Conduct of community-based monitoring and evaluation framework and 
development of SoC reporting system to track the progress of implementation that 
allows results-based management, learning and evidence-based decision-
making;  
m) Promotion of the blue economy for the improvement of livelihood and to stimulate 
economic growth while conserving and sustainably using the ocean and marine 
resources;  
n) Designation and assessment of priority area to be declared as coastal greenbelts 
for each coastal province, city, and municipality, to be planted with mangroves and 
beach forests, based on vulnerability to storm surges, waves, tsunami, and the 
like;  
o) Operational plan for the reversion of all abandoned ﬁshponds to mangroves 
through natural regeneration or replanting with locally appropriate species; and  
p) Existing legal frameworks related to coastal resource management and 
instruments that will complement the implementation of ICM Framework.  
  
The National ICM Framework shall provide direction, support and guidance to the 
LGUs and shall adhere to the principles of sustainable development and ecosystem-
based management that focuses on the interconnectivity of ecosystems and 
maintaining their health and resilience to deliver the goods and services; and policy 
and functional integration, coordination, and adaptive management that guide the 
ICM practice. The NIC shall ﬁnalize the National ICM Framework within twelve (12) 
months from the effectivity of this Act.  
  
Sec. 10. Coordination of ICM Programs, Pians, and Activities at the Regional Level. - 
The ICM shall be mainstreamed into the Regional Development Plans and Regional 
Development Investment Programs, and other relevant plans, programs and 
projects.  
  
Sec. 11. Coordination of ICM Programs, Pians, and Activities at the Provincial Level. 
-The Provincial Development Council (PDC) established under Section 107 (c) of 
Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", 
 
11


shall be responsible for the formulation of the ICM-responsive mandated local plans 
at the provincial level, including the coordination necessary for implementation 
except for provinces which have already established an environmental management 
ofﬁce or the like which can formulate such plans. 
 In addition to its members, the following ofﬁces and sectors shall be consulted for 
the purpose of facilitating the mainstreaming of ICM planning in the formulation of 
the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, among other related 
documents in line with the ICM principles:  
a) Chairperson of the Environment Committee of the Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan;  
b) Provincial Fisheries Ofﬁce or Ofﬁce of the Provincial Agriculturist or the 
Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Ofﬁce:  
c) Provincial Tourism Ofﬁce; 
d) DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Ofﬁcer; 
e) In the Province of Palawan, a representative from Palawan Council for 
Sustainable Development (PCSD), pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611, 
otherwise known as the "Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan 
Act";  
f) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), especially from the concerned district 
command of the respective provinces in the exercise of PCG's functions of 
maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime security 
including the enforcement of international conventions and treaties;  
g) Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA);  
h) Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG); 
i) Board Member of Marine Protected Area Networks, where applicable; 
j) Regional Ofﬁce of DSHUD; 
k) Local People’s Organization or Indigenous Community; and 
l) Other stakeholders concerned. 
  
 
In cases where two or more provinces share a common resource such as 
bays, gulfs, river basins, lakes, water sheds, marine protected areas, marine 
biodiversity corridors, key biodiversity areas and upland ecosystems, the 
coordination, support and assistance for the formulation, establishment and 
implementation of the Inter-Provincial ICM Plan shall be provided by the concerned 
Regional Development Council established under Executive Order No. 325, series of 
1996.  However, this provision shall not apply to provinces or common resources 
shared by several LGUs which have an existing ICM coordinating mechanism at the 
time of the effectivity of this Act.  
  
Sec. 12. Mainstreaming of ICM into Mandated Local Plans through Watershed-level 
Analysis and Planning. - Whenever feasible, the analysis and planning shall be 
undertaken at the watershed or sub-watershed level, especially for LGUs that share 
common resources and climate and disaster risks that cut across political 
boundaries.  
 
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The ICM strategies and guidelines shall be spelled out in the national and 
sub-national level plans through the National Physical Framework Plan (NPFP), 
Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP), and Regional Development Plan (RDP). 
With reference to the ICM Framework and the national and regional plans, the LGUs 
shall mainstream the ICM into their mandated local plans such as CLUP and CDP in 
the case of cities and municipalities, and the PDPFP for provinces by translating the 
concepts, strategies, and principles outlined in the aforementioned higher-level 
framework and plans into speciﬁc programs, projects and activities.  
To strengthen the alignment in terms of strategic direction and harmonization 
of programs, projects, and activities related to ICM, the LGUs shall provide a venue 
for relevant national or regional line agencies to participate in their respective Local 
Development Council's Sectoral Committees. They shall, likewise, be tapped to 
assist in data gathering and validation, situational analysis, consultation meetings, 
and identiﬁcation of goals, objectives, targets, and programs, projects, and activities 
under the CLUP, CDP, and PDPFP.  
For monitoring purposes, LGUs shall submit an annual report on the 
implementation of their ICM-related programs, projects, and activities to BMB of the 
DENR.  
  
Sec.13. Data Sharing and Technical Assistance. – To address the LGUs' need for 
data access and technical assistance in the preparation of their ICM-responsive 
plans, the following strategies shall be pursued by concerned national government 
agencies and LGUs:  
a) Data sharing agreement between the national government agencies and 
LGUs;  
b) Updating of base maps; 
c) Creation of National Geospatial Database in relation to Sections 29 (d) and 
30 of this Act; and 
d) Joint technical assistance of DHSUD, DENR, and DILG during the 
preparation of CLUP, CDP, and PDPFP. 
  
Sec. 14. Additional Functions of the Provincial Development Council. - In addition to 
the functions provided in Section 109 of Republic Act No, 7160, without prejudice to 
the agreements crafted for ICM pians, the PDC shall:  
a)  Develop policies and guidelines for the ICM protection, conservation, and 
restoration of the province's coastal and marine ecosystems; 
b)    Coordinate the establishment and consolidation of baseline data on ICM 
especially in relation to biodiversity;  
c)   Resolve conﬂicts arising from ICM between or among municipalities or 
cities or between an LGU and a body managing a specially administered 
area within the province: Provided, That boundary disputes between and 
among the LGUs shall be settled in accordance with Sections118 and 119 
of Republic Act No. 7160 and its implementing rules and regulations; 
 
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d)   Coordinate the efforts of provinces, cities, and municipalities with shared 
coastal ecosystems and resources, to address issues that transcend their 
political boundaries;  
e)  Consult cities and municipalities on the development of the provincial ICM 
plan; and  
f)    Provide technical advisory and local development councils (LDC) in the 
formulation of ICM programs, plans, and activities that are aligned to the 
PDPFP, provincial ICM plan and strategy; CLUP, and CDP.  
  
 
However, these functions may be performed by an environmental 
management ofﬁce or the like for provinces which have already established such an 
ofﬁce.  
  
Sec. 15. Coordination of ICM Programs, Plans, and Activities at the City and 
Municipal Levels. - The City or Municipal Development Council (CDC or MDC) 
established pursuant to Section 107 (b) of Republic Act No. 7160 shall be 
responsible for the mainstreaming and integration of national ICM elements and 
strategies into their respective development plans, land use plans, and other relevant 
plans, whether in the level of a highly urbanized city (HUC), independent component 
city (ICC), component city, or municipality, including the implementation and 
coordination necessary therefor which shall be reviewed by the NIC. In addition to its 
members, the following ofﬁces and sectors shall be consulted or serve as resource 
persons thereto for the purpose of coordinating the formulation and implementation 
of the ICM-responsive local development plans:   
a) Chairperson of the Environment Committee of the Sangguniang 
Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan; 
b) City or Municipal Planning and Development Ofﬁce or Ofﬁce of the City or 
Municipal Planning and Development;  
c) City or Municipal Fisheries Ofﬁce or Ofﬁce of the City or Municipal 
Agriculturist; 
d) City or Municipal Tourism Ofﬁce;  
e)  DENR Community Environment and Natural Resource Ofﬁcers (CENRO);  
f) Local people’s organization or indigenous community; 
g) Local academic institution which specializes in ICM; and 
h) Other stakeholders concerned. 
  
 
The Provincial Planning and Development Coordination Ofﬁce shall perform 
oversight functions to ensure the responsiveness of existing plans and policies, and 
shall serve as the Secretariat to the local development councils, pursuant to planning 
and development coordination functions provided under Sections 113 and 476 of 
Republic Acy No. 7160.  
  
 
A position for a City ICM Ofﬁcer or a Municipal ICM Ofﬁcer may be created or 
designated for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the ICM - 
 
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responsive mandated local plans such as LCCAPs, CLUP, and CDP. Each LGU may 
allocate fund for the creation of a plantilla position for the ICM ofﬁcer in consultation 
with the DBM.  
  
 
However, this provision shall not apply to cities and municipalities which have 
an existing ICM coordinating mechanism at the time of the effectivity of this Act.  
  
Sec. 16. ICM Ofﬁce. -The Provincial Planning and Development Coordination Ofﬁce 
shall serve as the ICM Ofﬁce and shall act as the Secretariat to the PDC which shall 
serve as the overall coordinating mechanism for ICM programs, plans and activities, 
and monitor the implementation of the provincial ICM-responsive mandated local 
plans in consonance with the National ICM Framework. 
 
Sec. 17. Additional Functions of the City or Municipal Development Council. - In 
addition to the functions provided in Section 109 of Republic Act No. 7160, the CDC 
or MDC shall: 
a) Ensure that the formulation of LCCAPs, CLUPs, CDPs, and AIPs are 
guided by the ICM principles and incorporate the elements of ICM planning 
and shall be reviewed and approved by the appropriate government 
agencies or committees;  
b) Ensure that the rights of the indigenous cultural communities/indigenous 
peoples shall be recognized and protected pursuant to Section 7 of 
Republic Act No. 8371 or the "Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997";  
c) Coordinate the efforts and the implementation of ICM-responsive mandated 
local plans among relevant barangays to address issues that transcend 
their boundaries;  
d) Coordinate the establishment and consolidation of baseline data on ICM 
especially in relation to biodiversity and ecosystems goods and services; 
and  
e) Resolve conﬂicts arising from ICM between or among barangays or 
between a barangay and a specially managed or administered area within 
the city or municipality.  
  
Sec. 18. Representation of Other Agencies and Stakeholders. - LGUs shall include 
the representation in their respective development councils of other national 
agencies and stakeholder groups that may be affected by the implementation of 
ICM. The modalities and mechanisms for this representation shall be determined by 
the government ofﬁces mentioned in Sections 11 and 15 of this Act.  
  
Sec. 19. Assistance from LGUs and National Agencies. - The local development 
councils may call upon any local ofﬁcial or any ofﬁcial of national agencies or ofﬁces 
within the LGU to assist in the formulation of ICM-responsive mandated local plans.  
In providing technical assistance and other forms of support related to coastal 
management and the implementation of mandated local plans, national government 
agencies shall give priority to sixth- up to third-class municipalities and other LGUs 
 
15


with approved or existing ICM-responsive mandated local plans in accordance with 
their economic environmental condition or requirement.  
  
Sec. 20. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting of ICM Framework. -The NIC shall 
coordinate the preparation, consolidation, and submission of an initial SoC Report 
one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, based on a monitoring and evaluation 
mechanism that shall be developed to track the progress of the country's ICM 
implementation. Every ﬁve (5) years thereafter, the NIC shall coordinate the 
preparation, consolidation, and submission of the SoC Report to the President. This 
report shall contain the status of implementation of the ICM-responsive mandated 
local plans such as LCCAPs, CLUPs, and CDPs, in line with the National ICM 
Framework. The LGU shall submit their respective progress reports on the 
implementation of their respective ICM-responsive mandated local plans to the NIC 
through the DENR.  
The NIC shall regularly update their existing monitoring and assessment 
mechanisms relevant to ICM to ensure compliance of the LGU.  
National government agencies which are members of the NIC shall update 
their existing monitoring and assessment mechanisms relevant to ICM to ensure 
compliance of the LGUs.  
  
Sec. 21. ICM Best Practices. - The National ICM Framework and local ICM- 
responsive plans shall promote the application of best learnings which include the 
following:  
a) Coastal and marine use classiﬁcation, marine spatial planning, and 
harmonization of comprehensive land and water use plan as management 
tools;  
b) Sustainable ﬁsheries and conservation of living resources; 
c) Protection and rehabilitation of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, estuaries, 
and other habitats, particularly through the establishment of marine 
protected areas, nature reserves, and sanctuaries; 
d) Development of management approaches for the conservation of upland 
watershed, catchment areas, and river basins; 
e) Integrated waste management, including sewage and solid, hazardous, 
toxic, and other forms of pollution by major sources that affect coastal 
areas; 
f) Natural and man-made hazards management; 
g) Water demand use and supply management; 
h) Blue economy accounting for payment for ecosystem services and 
equitable allocation of costs and beneﬁts; i) Integrated and bay wide law 
enforcement;  
j) Disaster risk reduction and management in coastal and marine areas;  
k) Climate change adaptation and mitigation in coastal and marine areas;  
l) Community-led natural resource management; 
 
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m) Recognition of indigenous peoples' concerns;  
n) Integrated management of port safety, health, security and environment 
protection;  
o) Involvement of the private sector or business sector as a partner in ICM;  
p) Knowledge management and exchange; 
q) Mobilization of sustainable ﬁnancing mechanisms;  
r) Adoption of nature-based solutions to consider threats and emerging issues 
arising from changes in socioeconomic, technological, and ecological 
landscape; and  
s) Management of informal settlements situated in hazard prone areas.  
  
Sec. 22. Incentives. - The NIC shall develop a national incentive and recognition 
system to encourage and motivate the LGU to diligently and efﬁciently implement; 
and monitor the implementation of their ICM-responsive mandated local plans.  
In addition to the criteria provided in Section 7 of Republic Act No. 11292, 
otherwise known as "The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019", the LGU 
may be granted the Seal of Good Local Governance if it exemplarily implemented 
and sustained its ICM-responsive mandated local plans.  The details of the 
recognition and reward system shall be provided in the implementing rules and 
regulations of this Act.  
  
Sec. 23. Scientiﬁc Advisory Group. - The NIC shall establish a National Scientiﬁc 
Advisory Group to ensure that ICM interventions have sound scientiﬁc basis.  
The Scientiﬁc Advisory Group shall provide guidance to the LGUs in relation to 
technical documents, new scientiﬁc developments and policies in climate science 
and coastal management; and in achieving their environmental goals.  
It shall be composed of the following:  
a) Representative from the academe who specializes in ICM or any related 
discipline;  
b)  Representative from the DOST;  
c)  Representative from the DENR;  
d)  Representative from the BFAR;  
e) Representative from the Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS) 
or other professional society related to natural resource management and 
coastal management; and  
f) Representative from the PCG's functional command Marine Environmental 
Protection Command Service (MEPCOM).  
  
 
The Scientiﬁc Advisory Group shall also convene to serve as the experts in 
discussing and advising on the technical and science-based issues related to the 
National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan in Chapter III of this Act. It may also 
coordinate with existing science-based expert groups, such as the National Panel on 
Technical Experts, on ICM-related policies and development.  
  
 
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Sec. 24. Role of National Government Agencies. - All concerned national 
government agencies shall support the implementation of the National ICM 
Framework and ICM-responsive mandated local plans, and promote ICM best 
learnings that fall within their respective mandates. They shall identify, prepare, and 
provide policy guidance and technical assistance to the DENR, the development 
councils, and the LGUs in the implementation of the National ICM Framework and 
ICM-responsive mandated local plans, and in the enforcement of relevant coastal 
and marine policies and regulations; and regional and international commitments or 
treaties. These agencies shall directly consult with concerned LGUs in the 
development and implementation of the National ICM Framework and ICM- 16 
responsive mandated local plans affecting coastal and marine areas in their 
respective localities.  
All government contracts entered into and permits issued by the government 
such as foreshore lease agreements, forest management agreements, special land 
use permits, and mining permits shall be entered into or issued by the government 
and its instrumentalities in conformity with the National ICM Framework and ICM - 
responsive mandated local plans.  
  
Sec. 25. Specially Managed or Administered Areas. - Specially managed or 
administered areas such as river basins. Water Quality Management Areas 
(WQMAs) established under Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as the 
"Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004", special economic and freeport zones, and 
protected areas, whether established under Republic Act No. 11038 or by virtue of 
an ordinance, shall prepare their management plans in consonance with the ICM 
National Framework and relevant ICM-responsive mandated local plans. Their 
management plans shall incorporate ICM principles and best practices taking into 
account the interlinkages between and among associated watersheds and wetlands.  
  
Sec. 26. Review of Existing ICM or Related Programs and Plans. - Provinces, cities, 
municipalities, specially managed or administered areas such as special economic 
zones or freeport zones, bays, lakes, or marine protected areas(MPAs) shall review, 
revise, reconcile, and harmonize their existing ICM or related programs or plans 
based on the National ICM Framework within three (3) years from the effectivity of 
this Act. Actual use shall be preferred over future or reserve use: Provided, That all 
existing locational clearances and zoning permits issued by the LGUs or other 
government agencies prior to the effectivity of this Act shall remain valid pending 
review of existing programs and plans and zoning ordinances (ZOs), and they shall 
not be invalidated because of the new and approved programs and plans and ZOs 
which determined proper location in a different coastal use zoning area: Provided, 
further, That appropriate measures shall be adopted by the LGU concerned, the 
landowner, and the developer in the event that any existing structure and facility are 
found to be properly covered by a different coastal use zoning category in the areas 
where they are currently located: Provided, ﬁnally. That existing structures and 
facilities within extremely hazardous and high risk danger zones which cannot be 
addressed by any mitigating or protective measures shall be required to relocate.  
  
Sec. 27. Role of Local Government Units. - All LGUs shall act as the frontline 
agencies in the formulation, planning, implementation, and monitoring of ICM 
 
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programs in their respective municipal waters. The ICM-responsive mandated local 
plans shall be supportive of and compliant with the National ICM Framework and 
shall be prepared in consultation with the stakeholders. The LGUs shall regularly 
update their ICM-responsive mandated local plans such as LCCAPs, CLUPs, and 
CDPs to reﬂect emerging needs, and changing socio-economic, technological, and 
environmental conditions. The LGUs shall also ensure that their annual work and 
investment plans are aligned based on their ICM-responsive LCCAPs, CLUPs, and 
CDP. The LGUs shall furnish the NIC their respective ICM-responsive mandated 
local plans and all subsequent amendments, modiﬁcations, and revisions thereto. 
LGUs shall mobilize and allocate the necessary personnel, resources, and logistics 
to effectively implement their respective ICM-responsive mandated local plans. 
Barangays shall be directly involved with municipal and city governments in 
prioritizing coastal and marine issues and identifying and implementing solutions. 
Municipal and city governments with coastal areas or zones shall consider ICM as 
one of their priority programs.  
Provincial governments shall provide technical assistance, enforcement, and 
information management in support of Municipal and City ICM-responsive mandated 
local plans. Inter-LGU collaboration shall be encouraged in the conduct of activities 
related to protecting the country's coastal and marine resources.  
  
Sec. 28. Roles of Civil Society and the Private Sector. - In the development and 
implementation of the ICM program, the non-government organizations, civic 
organizations, people's organizations, the academe, the private sector, and other 
concerned stakeholder groups shall be engaged in activities such as planning, 
community organizing, research, technology transfer, information sharing, 
investment, training programs, and monitoring, and evaluation, response, and 
feedback systems.  
  
Sec. 29. Supporting Activities. -The following activities shall be undertaken in support 
of the implementation of ICM programs: 
a) ICM Education - The Department of Education (DepEd), the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall integrate 
the concept and basic principles of ICM into the primary, secondary, 
and tertiary education curricula, as well as in the textbooks, primers 
and other educational materials. The DOST shall likewise include 
integrated coastal management, tropical marine ecosystem 
management, and other related studies in their scholarship programs 
for graduate studies;
b) ICM Training Program for LGUs - The DENR and the DILG, through the 
Local Government Academy, shall develop and provide ICM training 
programs for LGUs. For this purpose, LGUs may allocate funds for 
scholarships on tertiary and graduate courses relating to ICM or secure 
funds for such scholarships from sources other than the LGU's funds; 
 
19


c) Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting and Valuation for ICM 
Planning - The NEDA and the National Statistical Coordination Board 
(NSCB) shall incorporate coastal and marine resource accounting as well 
as estimates of their carrying capacity in the national and regional 
accounts;
d) Coastal and Marine Environmental Information Management System 
and  National Geospatial Database - The DENR shall oversee the 
establishment and maintenance of a coastal and marine environmental 
information management system and network, in collaboration with other 
concerned national government agencies, institutions, LDC, civil society 
organizations and other academic institutions. The DENR shall promote the 
documentation and information dissemination of good practices as well as 
initiate replication and scaling up of ICM programs in the country. The 
concerned agencies, however, shall review the coastal and marine data 
prior to their public dissemination.  
  
Sec. 30. Contribution of the National ICM Framework to the Establishment of the 
National Environment and Natural Resources Geospatial Database and Natural 
Capital Accounting (NCA) System.- The National ICM Framework shall contribute to 
the creation of the National Geospatial Database on Environment and Natural 
Resources (NER) that will serve as a platform for the planning and implementation of 
integrated strategies for inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaboration. In particular, a 
coastal and marine spatial planning tool shall be developed which can bring together 
multiple users of the ocean, including energy, industry, government, conservation, 
and recreation sectors, to make informed and coordinated decisions about how to 
use marine resources.  
It shall, likewise, contribute to the establishment of the NCA system, that 
includes: 1) valuation of coastal and marine resources and the ecosystem services 
that they provide; and 2) costs resulting from unsustainable economic activities, 
over-exploitation of natural resources, loss of habitats and biodiversity, and 
environmental degradation have to be analyzed since these are not explicitly 
measured in the national income accounts.  
  
CHAPTER III 
NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT ACTION PLAN 
  
Sec. 31. National Coastal Greenbelt Action Rian. -The NIC shall identify and 
convene all national government agencies responsible for foreshore management, 
mangrove and beach forest protection and utilization, coastal land and sea-use 
planning, coastal tourism development, social welfare of coastal communities, and 
other relevant mandates, to prepare an integrated National Coastal Greenbelt Action 
Plan (NCGAP).
The NCGAP shall, at the minimum, contain the following:
a) Spatial representation, or if feasible, quick or rapid national inventory of 
the status of coastlines and offshores, including the status of 
 
20


mangroves, beach forests, settlements, structures, and ﬁshponds 
within 100 meters therein; 
b) The action plan shall indicate that the assessment of priority areas shall be 
completed within twelve (12) months from the adoption of the NCGAP; 
c) Designation of priority areas for coastal greenbelts that are already 
included either as a protected area under Republic Act No. 11038 or as a 
ﬁsh refuge or sanctuary under Republic Act No. 8550,otherwise known as 
the "Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998", as amended by Republic Act No. 
10654, or as a local marine protected area as may be declared by 
municipalities and cities through ordinances. The designation of a priority 
area shall be completed within six (6) months from the completion of the 
applicable biophysical, socioeconomic, and geological assessment 
contemplated under Section 32 of this Act. Designation shall also be done 
through a proposal to the appropriate agency, municipality or city as may 
be deemed necessary. In the event an area is designated as a priority area 
for coastal greenbelts, no structure shall be allowed therein unless it is 
approved by the DENR or DA through the BFAR: Provided, That with 
respect to the Province of Palawan, the necessary clearance from the 
PCSD shall also be required pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611, otherwise 
known as "Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act"; 
d) Operational plan for the rehabilitation, reforestation, or afforestation of 
designated priority coastal greenbelts with ecologically appropriate 
mangrove and beast forest species, not less than 100 meters in width. 
Existing forests or plantations greater than the minimum width shall not be 
reduced. The program for rehabilitation, reforestation or afforestation shall 
be community-based, long-term and implemented through the municipality 
or city government. The operational plan shall indicate that the program for 
rehabilitation, reforestation, and afforestation must cover a minimum target 
area of twenty percent (20%) of the designated priority areas in the ﬁrst ﬁve 
(5) years for maximum protection of the most vulnerable communities in 
the city or municipality. The remaining priority areas must be completed 
within ten (10) years from the designation of the priority area; 
e) All ﬁshponds that are declared by the DENR and DA-BFAR, through a joint 
assessment, as abandoned, undeveloped or underutilized (AUU) shall be 
turned over to the DENR within one (1) year after its declaration. The 
DENR will then revert the AUU ﬁshponds to their original mangrove state 
through natural or artiﬁcial reforestation in accordance with Section 49 of 
Republic Act No. 8550 as amended by Republic Act No. 10654. All AUU 
ﬁshponds turned over to the DENR shall be declared as part of the coastal 
greenbelt. The minimum target for the ﬁrst year of implementation of the 
NCGAP will include all AUU ﬁshpond areas turned over to the DENR for 
reversion to their original mangrove state; 
f) Operational Plan for the removal of illegal structures such as breakwater, 
permanent residential or commercial structures, and the like, in the 
 
21


identiﬁed priority coastal greenbelts. The NCGAP shall indicate that the 
declaration and notice to persons responsible for the removal of illegal 
structures shall be completed within twelve (12) months upon issuance of 
Notice to Vacate. The removal of illegal structures and the start of 
rehabilitation, reforestation or afforestation of these areas shall form part of 
the minimum target for ﬁrst year of implementation of the NCGAP;  
g) Monitoring and evaluation plan, with quantitative and qualitative targets 
consistent with (d), (e) and (f) above, appropriate indicators and reasonable 
means of veriﬁcation. The plan shall become an integrated part of the 
NCGAP-responsive LCCAP.  
  
 
The NCGAP and all of its relevant components shall be incorporated into the 
mandated local plans of the LGUs, such as, but not limited to, CLUP and CDP.  
  
Sec. 32. Designated Areas for Coastal Greenbelt - Areas designated for coastal 
greenbelt shall cover natural, rural and urban areas with mangrove or mangrove 
areas, AUL) ﬁshponds turned over to the DENR, site speciﬁc stretches of vegetation 
in areas requiring the reversion to mangroves through natural regeneration or 
replanting with locally appropriate species and beach forests, subjected to prior 
vested right.  
All applicable biophysical, socioeconomic, and geological assessments shall 
be conducted prior to the designation of coastal greenbelts. Upon determination by 
the NIC of a particular area as a designated area for coastal greenbelt under Section 
31 (c) of this Act, CLUPs and zoning ordinances shall be updated accordingly.  
All ﬁshponds turned over to the DENR shall be prioritized in the designation of 
coastal greenbelts and its corresponding reversion to category of public lands as 
mangrove reforestation sites shall be completed within the year of identiﬁcation as 
such following the guidelines approved by the NIC.  
  
Sec. 33. Implementation of the NCGAP. - In addition to the functions of the NIC in 
Section 8 of this Act, the NIC shall take the lead in implementing the component 
plans and programs of the NCGAP.  
The DHSUD, through its attached agencies, shall provide appropriation for the 
relocation of the families or individuals who will be affected by the designated areas 
subject to the availability of funds.  
Other agencies that participated in the preparation of the NCGAP-responsive 
LCCAP shall implement their commitments thereto. The actions required by the NIC 
are immediately executable based on the agreed NCGAP-responsive LCCAP, and 
on NIC members existing mandates, programs or budgets that are aligned with the 
action plan, without need for the formulation of the implementing guidelines, rules 
and regulations for this Act. 
 
All existing laws, rules, and regulations, providing protection to coastlines, 
foreshores, and priority areas shall remain in full force and effect, and shall 
 
22


supplement the provisions of this Act, unless otherwise terminated, modiﬁed or 
amended.  
  
Sec. 34. Local Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan. - The CDC or MDC established 
pursuant to Section 107 (b) of Republic Act No. 7160 shall ensure that the coastal 
greenbelt elements and strategies are incorporated into the mainstreaming process 
of ICM within their respective development plans, land use plans, and other relevant  
plans, whether at the highly urbanized city (HUC), independent component city 
(ICC), component city, or municipal levels, including the implementation and 
coordination necessary therefor which shall be reviewed by NIC. A detailed step-by- 
step process of mainstreaming the coastal greenbelt into the relevant local plan of 
the LGU shall be provided for in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.  
  
CHAPTER IV 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
  
Sec. 35. Prohibited Acts. - The following shall constitute prohibited acts punishable 
under this Act, without prejudice to accrued liability for acts and omissions 
punishable under existing environmental laws: 
a) Any person who unjustly obstructs the LGU, DENR or DA through the 
BFAR and PCSD in the Province of Palawan in the removal of illegal 
structures in the process of reversion of AUU ﬁshponds, shall be liable to 
the agency for an administrative ﬁne of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) 
per day that the agency is prevented from performing its function.  
b) No structures shall be built within the identiﬁed coastal greenbelts without a 
permit from DENR, or DA through the BFAR, or PCSD in the Province of 
Palawan, consistent with their mandates. Any person who violates this 
prohibition shall be liable to the agency for an administrative ﬁne of Fifty 
thousand pesos (P50,000.00) per day from the time the structure was built 
until its removal.  
c) A crime or offense committed within the designated coastal greenbelt areas 
shall subject the offender to a ﬁne of not less than One hundred thousand 
pesos (P100,000.00) and not more than Five million pesos 
(P5,000,000.00), depending on the gravity of the offense.  
d) Any violation of the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and 
regulations duly promulgated and published, shall be subject to an 
administrative ﬁne of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) upon any person 
or entity found guilty thereof.  
  
 
Proceeds from the administrative ﬁnes imposed under this Section shall be 
remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury.  
  
Sec. 36. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of the 
Act shall be charged against the current year appropriations of the departments or 
agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continuing 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from and included in the annual General 
 
23


Appropriations Act. The LGUs concerned may provide the necessary funds for the 
purpose, in their respective annual budgets.  
  
Sec. 37. Other Funding Options. - The NIC, the local development councils, the 
LGUs, and the national government agencies may source local and international 
grants, bequests, donations, and other sustainable ﬁnancing mechanisms in support 
of ICM implementation. LGUs to be prioritized in the allocation of these funds shall 
include sixth- up to third-class municipalities and LGUs with existing ICM and/or 
related policies.  
The Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, 
the People's Credit and Finance Corporation, and other relevant government 
ﬁnancial institutions shall formulate and identify loan and ﬁnancing mechanisms that 
shall be made available to support local ICM-responsive programs, including 20 
alternative livelihood projects for small-scale ﬁsherfolks and cooperatives.  
  
Sec. 38. Tax Exemption. - All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and 
contributions made to the NIC, the local development councils, the LGUs, the DA, 
the DENR, and the PCSD to be used actually, directly, and exclusively for the 
implementation of the ICM shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be 
considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of computing 
the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National 
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.  
  
Sec. 39. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The DA, DENR, CCC, DHSUD, and 
DILG, in consultation with concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate 
the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within one hundred eighty (180) 
days from its effectivity: Provided, That failure to issue the implementing rules and 
regulations will not prevent the implementation of this Act upon effectivity.  
  
Sec. 40. Annual Report. – The NIC shall submit an annual report to the Ofﬁce of the 
President on its compliance with its functions under this Act, the implementation of 
the ICM Framework, and the SoC report on or before March 30 of every year 
following the effectivity of this Act. 
  
Sec. 41. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
Sec. 42. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended or modiﬁed accordingly. 
  
Sec. 43. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect ﬁfteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Ofﬁcial Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,
 
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