REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila \

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__2832

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C, MENDOZA,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines is among the largest archipelagic states, composed of 7,100 islands
(300,000 sq. km. land area and some 36,000 km, of coastline) and covering an
exclusive economic zone of about 2.2 million square kilometers, About half of the 87
million Filipinos live in coastal areas. The annual benefit derived from coastal
ecosystems is estimated at P180 billion. Some experts estimate that the contribution
of coastal areas to annual GDP can even be as high as 60 percent. In 2006, GDP wa
at P5.4 trillion, Yet a survey in 1996 showed that 80% of the coastal households lived
below the poverty threshold (WB 2005, DENR/UNDP/MERP 2004).

The fisheries sector is most significant if only for the number of people dependent on
it. In 1996, there were about a million fisherfolk, 68% of whom were municipal or
small-scale fisherfolk. Fisheries contributes about 2-4% of GDP, Maritime transport
is another significant sector. ‘The Philippines has more than 1,250 ports and more
than 30,000 ships plying the domestic routes. Marine transport contributes
significantly to the growth of the transportation sector, which as a whole contributed
about 7% to GDP. Coastal tourism is a major growth area, with 18 of the top 25
tourist attractions of the country located in coastal areas. Mining in coastal areas is
also expanding, mostly in oil and gas. Lastly, major industrial areas are located in the
coastal zone, where water is used for industrial processes or for transport of raw
materials and products.

Despite the significant contribution of the coastal and marine area to GDP,
development planning in the Philippines is still described as largely land-focused
The extent of the marine territory of the country is seven times the land area, yet there
is no comprehensive plan to sustainably exploit the vast marine wealth, Ironically,
land-based economic activities have largely contributed to the devastation of coastal
and marine areas.



Due to the complexity of environmental issues and the variety of sectors
benefiting from the coastal and marine resources, there is a need to adopt an
innovative approach that will address environmental as well as socioeconomic issues
in a comprehensive and integrated manner through an ecological/ecosystem approach
in order to promote optimum resource mobilization and sustainable coastal and
marine development. Integrated coastal management is a dynamic process of planning
and management involving stakeholders, and requiring the analysis of the
environmental and socioeconomic implications of development, the ecosystem
processes, and the interrelationships among land-based and marine-related activities
across jurisdictions “from ridge to reef.” Integrated coastal management is recognized
as an effective approach to sustainable coastal and marine development with
demonstrated benefits in enhancing economic growth, ecosystem  prote:
promotion of social equity, and the quality of life of the people.

rhe Philippines is a Party to many international agreements on seas and
‘oceans, principally, the Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on Biological
Diversity, and Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as well as non-
binding instruments such as the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 which promote
integrated and sustainable coastal management. One of the UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) is to ensure environmental sustainability by integrating
the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and
reversing the loss of environmental resources. The Pian of Implementation of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development promotes integrated, multidisciplinary
and multisectoral coastal and ocean management at the national level. The Philippines
is also committed to implement the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of
East Asia, which requires concerted efforts towards integrated coastal and ocean
management,

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

YMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA
Party-list Representative, TUCP


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2332

INTRODUCED BY HON. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C, MENDOZA

AN ACT ADOPTING INTEGRATED COASTAL ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
AS A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY’S COASTAL AND MARINE
ENVIRONMENT AND ESTABLISHING SUPPORTING MECHANISMS FOR ITS
IMPLEMENTATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This law shall be known as “Integrated Coastal
Ecosystem Management Act of 2013.”

SECTION 2. Policy Statement. It shall be the policy of the State to insure
optimum resource utilization and sustainable coastal and marine development.
Towards this end, it shall adopt Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Management,
hereinafter referred to as ICEM, and related approaches such as coastal
resource management or coastal zone management as the national
management policy framework to promote the sustainable development of the
country's coastal and marine environment and resources in order to achieve food
security, sustainable livelihood, poverty alleviation and reduction of vulnerability
to natural hazards, while preserving ecological integrity

Section 3. Scope and Coverage. _ CEM shall be implemented in all
coastal and marine areas, addressing inter-linkages among associated
watersheds, estuaries and wetlands, and coastal seas, by all relevant national
and local agencies


Section 4. Development of a National ICEM Program. A National
ICEM Program shall be developed by the DENR, in consultation with other
concerned agencies, sectors, stakeholders, within one year from the effectivity of
this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to the local government units
(LGUs) and stakeholders in the development and implementation of their local
ICEM programs. The National ICEM Program shall include principles, strategies,
and action plans identified after balancing national development priorities with
local concerns, define national ICEM targets and develop a national ICEM
coordinating mechanism

Section 5. Implementation of ICEM Programs. The implementation of
ICM programs shall take into account the following elements:

4) an interagency, multisectoral mechanism to coordinate the efforts of
different agencies, sectors and administrative levels;

coastal strategies and action plans that provide a long-term vision and
strategy for sustainable development of the coastal area, and a fixed term
program of actions for addressing priority issues and concerns;

public awareness programs to increase level of understanding of, and
appreciation for, the coastal and marine resources of the area, and to
promote a shared responsibility among stakeholders in the planning and
implementation of the ICEM program;

mainstreaming ICEM programs into the national and local governments’
planning and socio-economic development programs and allocating
adequate financial and human resources for implementation;

capacity building programs to enhance required human resource skills,
scientific input to policy and planning processes, and enforcement
mechanisms to ensure compliance with adopted rules and regulations;
integrated environmental monitoring for the purpose of measuring the
status, progress and impacts of management programs against
sustainable development indicators, as may be established, and for use in
decision-making, public awareness and performance evaluation; and
investment opportunities and sustainable financing mechanisms for
environmental protection and improvement and resource conservation

2)

3

4

s

=

i

ICEM programs shall promote the application of best practices, such as, but
not limited to:

1) coastal and marine use zonation as a management tool;

2) sustainable fisheries and conservation of living resources;

3) Protection and rehabilitation of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass,
estuaries and other habitats, particularly through implementation of marine
protected areas, nature reserves and sanctuaries;

Development of upland, watershed, catchment areas and basin wide
management approaches;

=


5) Integrated waste management, including sewage, and solid, hazardous,
toxic and other wastes by major sources;

6) Integrated management of port safety, health, security and environmental
protection; and

7) Involvement of the private sector/business sector as a partner in ICEM.

Section 6. National Government Responsibilities. All concerned
national agencies shall support the implementation of the ICEM program and
promote best practices, some of which are indicated in Section 5, that fall within
their respective mandates. Specifically, the Department of Agriculture,
Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation and
Communications, Department of Finance, Department of Tourism, Department of
Health, Department of Education, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of
Science and Technology, Department of Energy, Department of National
Defense, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Social
Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and the
Department of Justice shall identify, prepare, and provide policy guidance, and
technical and resource assistance to DENR and LGUs in the implementation of
the National and Local ICM Programs and enforcement of relevant coastal and
marine policies and regulations, These agencies shall directly consult with
televant LGUs in the development and implementation of national plans and
projects affecting coastal and marine areas in their respective localities.

Section 7. LGU Responsibilities for ICEM. Consistent with _the
provisions of the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160) and the national
sustainable development policies and strategies, LGUs shall act as the frontline
agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of ICEM programs in
their respective coastal and marine areas. The ICEM programs of the LGU shall
be in line with the National ICEM Program and prepared in consultation with the
relevant stakeholders. LGUs shall update their respective ICEM programs to
reflect changing social, economic and environmental conditions and emerging
issues. LGUs shall furnish the DENR, within one month from adoption, with
copies of their ICEM programs and all its subsequent amendments, modifications
and revisions. LGUs shall mobilize and allocate necessary personnel, resources
and logistics to effectively implement their respective ICEM programs.

Barangays shall be directly involved with municipal and city governments shall
consider ICEM as one of their regular functions. Provincial governments may
provide technical assistance, training, enforcement and information management
in support to municipal and city ICEM. Inter-LGU collaboration shall be
maximized in the conduct of activities related to sustaining the country's coastal
and marine resources.


Section 8. Roles of the Civil Society and the Corporate and Private
Sectors. In the development and implementation of the ICEM program, the
NGOs, civic organizations, academe, people's organizations, the private and
corporate sectors and other concerned stakeholder groups shall be engaged in
activities such as planning, community organizing, research, technology transfer,
information sharing, investment, and training programs

Section 9. Supporting Mechanisms and Activities. The following
activities shall be undertaken in support of the implementation of ICEM programs

4) ICEM Education. The Department of Education shall integrate ICEM into
the primary and secondary education curricula and/or subjects (i.e.
Science, Biology, Sibika, History, among others), including textbooks,
primers and other educational materials, basic principles and concepts of
conservation, protection and management of country's marine resources;

2) ICEM Training Program for LGUs, DENR and DILG, through the Local

Government Academy and building upon existing ICM expertise and

experiences, shall develop and provide ICM training programs to LGUs,

Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting and Valuation for ICEM

Planning. NEDA and the National Statistics Coordination Board shall

incorporate coastal and marine resource accounting in the national and

regional accounts; and

Coastal and Marine Environmental Information Management System

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 and LGUs.

2

4)

Section 10, Monitoring of ICEM Progress. The DENR shall prepare
and submit an annual progress report on the National ICEM Program to the
President; LGUs shall submit annual progress reports on local ICEM
implementation to the DENR.

Section 11, Budget Appropriation for ICEM. All relevant national
government agencies and LGUs shall allocate adequate funds for the
development and implementation of ICEM programs from their existing budget
In subsequent budget proposals, the concerned offices and units shall
appropriate budget for CEM program development and implementation including
continuing ICM training and education

Section 12. Other Funding Options. National government agencies
may source local and international grants and donations in support of ICEM
implementation and in accordance with relevant laws. The Land Bank of the
Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, People's Credit and Finance
Corporation and other relevant financial institutions shall formulate and identify


loan and financing mechanisms that will be made available to support local ICEM
programs, including alternative livelihood projects for small-scale fishers and
cooperatives.

LGUs particularly coastal cities/municipalities, as may be allowed under
relevant laws, may raise revenues and secure funds to implement their ICEM
program through

1) Enactment of Tax Ordinances;

2) Allocation of funds from the Internal Revenue Allotment, subject to
the approval of their legislative councils;

3) Utilization of shares in the development of national wealth;

4) Secure loans, grants and donations as may be applicable;

5) Privatization of local government-owned enterprises;

6) Adopt, as appropriate, user-fee schemes for waste management,

exclusive use of coastal water areas for commercial and leisure

purposes and other environmental services;

Public-Private Partnership Schemes under the Build Operate

Transfer Law (Republic Act 6957 as amended by Republic Act

7718) and related laws;

8) Arrange credit financing schemes; and

9) Raise income through Inter-LGU cooperation.

Es}

Section 13. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is declared by the Court as unconstitutional or invalid, the
other sections or provisions thereof shall not be affected thereby.

Section 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, ordinances, rules and
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation

Approved,