FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to ensure optimum resource utilization and sustainable coastal 
and marine development through the adoption of an Integrated Coastal Management 
(ICM) program, which shall be mainstreamed and implemented in all levels, starting 
from national to grassroots levels. 
Degradation of our coastal areas has long ceased to be merely an environmental 
issue as it pushed poverty deeper in the coastal communities through losses in 
livelihood, vulnerability to natural hazards, and even health problems. While efforts 
have been undertaken from the past 20 years, the programs lack a comprehensive and 
integrated approach that should have effectively managed coastal resources and 
prevented further problems. 
Recognizing the necessity to put in place a comprehensive framework that will 
promote the sustainable development of the coastal and marine environment and 
resources, this bill proposes to develop a national ICM program that shall provide 
direction, support, and guidance to the local government units (LGUs) in the 
development of their respective ICM programs. The Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR) as the primary agency tasked in developing said program, 
shall consult with all the stakeholders and concerned agencies and sectors. It shall 
likewise submit an annual report on the status of the program’s implementation to the 
President. 
This bill further mandates inter-agency and multi-sectoral coordination in 
implementing ICM programs, ensuring participation of the national government 
through its various agencies. To strengthen the objective of this bill, supporting 
mechanisms and activities are proposed to be put in place such as: 
: 
1. ICM Education 
2. ICM Training program for LGUs 
3. Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting and Valuation for ICM 
Planning 
4. Coastal and Marine Environmental Information Management System. 
To help carry out the ICM programs, government financial institutions and other 
similar and relevant financial institutions shall formulate and identify financing 
schemes, including livelihood projects for small-scale fishers and cooperatives. Local 
and international grants are also allowed to support the coastal management activities 
and programs, especially of the LGUs. 


Through a national ICM program and a systematic and comprehensive approach 
in implementing the same, we will be able to realize our goal of achieving food security, 
sustainable livelihood, poverty alleviation, and reduction of vulnerability to natural 
hazards while preserving ecological integrity. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
8 
RUG 28 :: 
'$2 
Second Regular Session 
1 
~1~~~~~~~ EIY 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
2572 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
TO ADOPT INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT AS A NATIONAL 
STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES AND TO 
ESTABLISH SUPPORTING MECHANISMS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in C o n p s s  
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This law shall be known as "The Integrated Coastal 
Management Act." 
Sec. 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 Management, hereinafter referred to as ICM, 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 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. 
Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage. - ICM shall be implemented in all coastal and 
marine areas, addressing the inter-linkages among associated watersheds, estuaries, 
and wetlands, and coastal seas, by all relevant national and local agencies. 
Sec. 4. Developmerzt of a National ICM Program. - A National ICM Program 
shall be developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in 
consultation with other concerned agencies, sectors and stakeholders, within one year 
from the effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to the Local 
Goveriunent Units (LGUs) and stakeholders in the development and implementation of 
their local ICM programs. 
The National ICM Program shall include principles, 
strategies and action plans identified after balancing national development priorities 
1 


with local concerns, define national ICM targets and develop a national ICM 
coordinating mechanism. 
Sec. 5. 
Inzplementation of ICM Program. - The implementation of ICM 
programs shall take into account the following elements: 
a. an inter-agency, multi-sectoral mechanism to coordinate the efforts of 
different agencies, sectors and administrative levels; 
b. coastal strategies and action plans that provide a long-term vision and 
strategy for sustainable development of the coastal areas, and a fixed-term 
program of actions for addressing priority issues and concerns; 
c. public awareness programs to increase the 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 ICM program; 
d. mainstreaming ICM programs into the national and local governments’ 
planning and socio-economic development programs and allocating adequate 
financial and human resources for implementation; 
e. 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 
f. 
g. Investment opportunities and sustainable financing mechanisms for 
environmental protection and improvement and resource conservation. 
ICM programs shall promote the application of best practices, such as, but not 
limited to: 
a. Coastal and marine use zonation as a management tool; 
b. Sustainable fisheries and conservation of living resources; 
c. Protection and rehabilitation of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, estuaries 
and other habitats, particularly through implementation of marine protected 
areas, nature reserves and sanctuaries; 
d. Development of upland watershed, catchment areas and basin-wide 
management approaches; 
2 


e. Integrated waste management, including sewage and solid, hazardous, toxic, 
and other wastes by major sources; 
f. Integrated management of port safety, health, security and environmental 
protection; and 
g. Involvement of the private sector/business sector as a partner in ICM. 
Sec. 6. National Government Responsibilities. - All concerned national agencies 
shall support the implementation of the ICM program and promote best practices, some 
of which were indicated in Sec. 5, that fall within their respective mandates. Specifically, 
the Department of Agriculture, Department of the 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 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 relevant 
LGUs in the development and implementation of national plans and projects affecting 
coastal and marine areas in their respective localities. 
Sec. 7. LGU Responsibilities for ICM. - Consistent with the provision 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 ICM programs in their respective coastal and marine 
areas. The ICM programs of the LGU shall be in line with the National ICM Program 
and prepared in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. LGUs shall update their 
respective ICM 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 ICM programs and all subsequent amendments, 
modifications and revisions. LGUs shall mobilize and allocate necessary personnel, 
resources and logistics to effectively implement their respective ICM programs. 
Barangays shall be directly involved with municipal and city governments in 
prioritizing coastal issues and identifying and implementing solutions. Municipal and 
city governments shall consider ICM as one of their regular functions. Provincial 
governments shall provide technical assistance, enforcement and information 


management in support of municipal and city ICM. Inter-LGU collaboration shall be 
maximized in the conduct of activities related to sustaining the country’s coastal and 
marine resources. 
Sec. 8. Roles of the Civil Society and the Corporate and Private Sectors. - In the 
development and implementation of the ICM 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, technoIogy transfer, information sharing, investment and training 
programs. 
Sec. 9. Supporting Mechanisms and Activities. - The following activities shall be 
undertaken in support of the implementation of ICM programs: 
a. ICM Education. The Department of Education shall integrate ICM into the 
primary and secondary education curricula and/or subjects, such as, but not 
limited to, Science, Biology, Sibika, History, including textbooks, primers and 
other educational materials, basic principles and concepts of conservation, 
protection and management of marine resources; 
b. ICM Training Promam for LGUs. The DENR and the DILG, through the 
Local Government Academy and building upon existing ICM expertise and 
experiences, shall develop and’provide ICM training programs to LGUs; 
c. Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting and Valuation for ICM 
Planning. 
NEDA and the National Statistics Coordination Board shall 
incorporate coastal and marine resource accounting in the national and 
regional accounts; and 
d. Coastal and Marine Environmental Information Management 
- 
System. 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 and LGUs. 
Sec. 10. Monitoring of ICM Progress. - The DENR shall prepare and submit an 
annual progress report on the National ICM Program to the President. LGUs shall 
submit annual progress reports on local ICM program implementation tto the DENR. 
Sec.11. Budgetary Appropriation for ICM. - All relevant government agencies 
and LGUs shall allocate adequate funds for the development and implementation of 
ICM programs from their existing budgets. In subsequent budget proposals, the 
4 


concerned offices and units shall appropriate budget for ICM program development 
and implementation including continuing ICM training and education. 
Sec. 12. Other Funding Options. - National government agencies may source 
local and international grants and donations in support of ICM implementation and in 
accordance with relevant laws. 
The Land Bank of the Philippines, the 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 ICM programs, including alternative livelihood projects for small-scale 
fishers and cooperatives. 
LGUs, particularly coastal cities or municipalities, as may be allowed under 
relevant laws, may raise revenues and secure funds to implement their ICM 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; 
7. 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. 
Sec. 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. 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, and 
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its complete publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of genera1,circulation. 
Approved, 
5