Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _3136

Introduced by Representative Maria Lourdes O. Acosta-Alba

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was based on Executive Order No. 533 which was signed by
then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 6, 2006. The concept of
Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Management (ICEM) arose out of the need to
integrate the efforts from "ridge to reef," or from the uplands to the lowlands,
to protect coastal and marine resources from which as much as 60 percent of
our GDP is derived. It is an institutional legal framework to coordinate the
efforts of various agencies and communities to plan and work together in
resolving conflicts arising from the use of resources from forest ridges to
coastal areas and ultimately, in marine waters.

There are four national government agencies that have major
administrative roles in managing the country's coastal and marine resources.
‘These are the DENR, Department of Agriculture — Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG)-Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of
Transportation and Communication (DOTC)/Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The DENR, particularly the Coastal and Marine Management Office (CMMO),
has the overall mandate to coordinate national efforts for environmental
protection and management of marine and coastal environments. The DA-
BPAR has primary responsibility over the conservation and proper utilization
of fishery resources. The DILG-PNP, on the other hand, has the general
responsibility over enforcement of criminal laws in coastal waters, including
illegal fishing activities while the DOTC-PCG's function is limited to safety of
life at sea and the prevention and control of marine pollution.

Over all, there are more than twenty other government agencies with
various policy, regulatory, planning, research and development functions in
the coastal and marine environment.


ICEM will serve as a holistic (covers upland to marine areas) and
ecological (transcend political boundaries for certain ecosystems) planning tool
that will facilitate the management of coastal and marine resources. It is a
system for cooperative management and intersectoral coordination, planning,
and reporting mainstreamed at the local and national levels to address
complex activities such as deforestation, mining, fishing, shipping, public
health, and recreation.

ICEM will not mean the creation of another agency. The bill only seeks
to establish a coordinative body named the National Coordinating Committee
on ICEM, to coordinate the review and implementation of the National ICEM
Framework. It will be composed of the Secretaries of the DENR as Chairman,
Secretaries of DA and DILG as Vice Chairpersons, NEDA Director General, and
representatives from the academe, NGOs dealing with coastal management or
fisheries, private sector, fisherfolk organizations or cooperatives, and the
Philippine Association of Marine Sciences (PAMS)

At the local level, ICEM will utilize the existing local development
councils which will also ensure the fact that ICEM will now be included and
eventually mainstreamed in the national economic planning.

ICEM is an internationally recognized coastal and marine planning tool
which produced successful pilot areas such as Bataan, Guimaras, Cavite, and
Batangas City.

ICEM is aimed at attaining two objectives: first, is to shift the focus of
the country’s development planning from terrestrial to coastal and marine to
reflect the significant contribution of such areas to the national GDP; second,
is to establish an ecological approach in managing the countrv’s coastal and
marine environment to promote sustainable development, achieve food
security, and to reduce the country's vulnerability to impacts of Climate
Change.

Based on the foregoing reasons, I would like to work for the passage of

the subject bill into law.
salle : ta hak
URDES ACOSTA

First District, Bukidnon


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,3138_

Introduced by Representative Maria Lourdes O. Acosta-Alba

AN ACT ADOPTING INTEGRATED COASTAL ECOSYSTEM
MANAGEMENT AS A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE
ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES, ESTABLISHING SUPPORTING
MECHANISMS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

CHAPTER 1
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 sustainable
development of coastal and marine resources. Towards this end, it shall adopt
integrated coastal management, hereinafter referred to as ICM, as a framework
in regulating different human activities and their impact on social and ecological
systems, and as strategy to promote sustainable development, food security,
gender equality and respect for sustainable traditional resource rights of
indigenous peoples, to alleviate poverty and reduce vulnerability to climate
change as well as human induced and natural hazards.

Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage. Integrated coastal management shall be
implemented in all coastal and marine areas by all relevant government
agencies and entities at the national and local levels, in consultation and
partnership with all stakeholders. All plans and programs to be pursued under
this policy shall take into consideration the interlinkages among watershed and
wetlands.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

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;


. Biological Diversity or Biodiversity refers to the variability among living
organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and
other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are
part. Biodiversity consists of variety of species, their genetic make-up,
and the communities or population to which they belong;

. Climate Change refers to a change in climate that can be identified by
changes in the mean and/or variability of its properties and that persist
for an extended period typically decades or longer, whether due to
natural variability or as a result of human activity;

. 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 mangrove swamps, brackish water
ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and other areas to
include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds, and other soft-bottom
areas;

. 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.

Integrated Coastal Management refers to a natural resource and
environmental ecosystem-based management framework which employs
an integrative, holistic management approach and an_ interactive
planning process in addressing the complex management issues of the
coastal area, and the major goal of which is to attain sustainable coastal
development, including the maintenance of the functional integrity of
ecosystems through effective coastal and ocean governance;

.. Mangroves refer to a community of intertidal plants including all species
of trees, shrubs, vines and herbs found on coasts, swamps, or border of
swamps;

. 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. 7586, otherwise
known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992",
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;


i. 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;

j. Wetland refers to areas of marsh, peatland or water, whether natural or
artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static, flowing,
fresh, brackish or salt, including adjacent areas of marine water; and

k. State of the Coasts reporting system refers to an assessment tool for
LGUs to be 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 evaluate progress
towards local, national, and international targets for sustainable
development.

CHAPTER I
INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

See. 5. National Coordinating Committee on ICM. There is hereby established
a National Coordinating Committee on ICM, hereinafter referred to as the
National Coordinating Committee, to coordinate the review and implementation
of the National ICM Framework. The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) shall provide secretariat support to the National
Coordinating Committee.

The National Coordinating Committee shall be composed of the following:

a) the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) who shall act as Chairperson;

b) the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Vice Chairperson;

c) the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
as Vice Chairperson;

d) the Director General of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA);

e) a representative from the academe who specializes in ICM;

f) arepresentative from non-government organizations dealing with coastal
management or fisheries;

g) a representative from the private sector;

h) a representative from fisherfolk organizations or cooperatives to be
recommended by the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Management Council; and

i) a representative from the Philippine Association of Marine Science
(PAMS).


‘The designated permanent representatives shall be chosen in a process to be
determined in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

The ex-omcio members of the Committee may designate their permanent
representatives to the National Coordinating Committee on ICM.

Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the National Coordinating Committee on ICM.
The National Coordinating Committee shall exercise and perform the following
powers and functions:

a) formulate, adopt, institutionalize and, amend if necessary, the National
ICM Framework, in consultation with other concerned agencies, sectors
and stakeholders, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act;

b)

identify ICM management areas such as bays, lakes, gulfs, river basins,
watersheds, wetlands, protected areas, and other resources that are
shared by two or more provinces and assign the coordination of the
formulation and implementation of the required Inter—Provincial ICM
Plan to the appropriate Regional Development Council;

initiate the establishment and consolidation of baseline data on ICM
especially in relation to biodiversity;

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d

resolve conflicts arising from ICM between or among provinces; and

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recommend the issuance or passage of policies or legislations to the
appropriate agency or the legislature.

Sec. 7. National ICM Framework. The National ICM Framework shall provide
direction, support and guidance to the local government units (LGUs) and
stakeholders in the development and implementation of their local ICM plans.
The National Coordinating Committee shall finalize the National ICM
Framework within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act.

The National ICM Framework shall include the following components of the
framework for sustainable development of coastal areas:

a) goals and objectives;
b) strategies and action plans;

¢) required policy or legislation;

d) information and public awareness campaign;

e) financing mechanisms; and

f) capacity building and National ICM Training Program.

Sec. 8. Elements of the National ICM Framework. 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)

peoples’ participation in the formulation and implementation of the
National ICM Framework;

c) 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 specifying responsible agencies or institutions
for addressing priority issues and concerns;

d) 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 National ICM Framework;

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;

e)

f) 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;

g) integrated environmental monitoring for the purpose of measuring,
evaluating, and reporting the status, progress and impacts of
management programs against established sustainable development
indicators and for use in decision-making, public awareness, and
performance evaluation;

h) investment opportunities and sustainable financing mechanisms for
environmental protection and improvement; and resource conservation;

i) disaster risk reduction and management as well as climate change
adaptation and mitigation programs; and

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 sustainable futures.

Sec. 9. Secretariat. The DENR shall provide secretariat support to the National
Coordinating Committee.

Sec. 10. Coordination of ICM Matters at the Regional Level. The Regional
Development Councils shall mainstream ICM in the formulation of Regional
Development Plans and Priority Framework, among other related documents.

Sec. 11. Coordination of ICM Matters at the Provincial Level. The Provincial
Development Council (PDC) established under Sec. 107 (c) of Republic Act No.
7160, otherwise known as "Local Government Code of 1991", shall be
responsible for the formulation of the ICM plan at the provincial level, including
the implementation and coordination necessary therefor: Provided, however,
‘That the chairperson of the environment committee of the sanggunian
panlalawigan shall serve as the second member of the Provincial Development


Council. In addition to the members of the PDC, the following offices and sector
shall be represented in the Council for the purpose of coordinating the
formulation and implementation of the Plan:

a) the Provincial Fisheries Office or Office of the Provincial Agriculturist;
b) the Provincial Tourism Office; and
c) the private sector.

In cases where two or more provinces share a common resource such as bays,
gulfs, river basins, lakes, watersheds, marine protected areas, marine
biodiversity corridors, 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. Additional Functions of the Provincial Development Council. Aside
from the functions enumerated under Sec. 109 of Republic Act 7160, the
Provincial Development Council shall:

a) formulate a Provincial ICM Plan in consultation with all the
municipalities and city or cities within the province;

b) submit the approved Provincial ICM Plan to the appropriate sanggunian
and recommend the issuance of an ordinance or ordinances to facilitate
the institutionalization of ICM in the local government programs;

c) submit the approved Provincial ICM Plan to the appropriate Regional
Development

Council for integration with the Regional Development Plan for
submission to the NEDA;

d

coordinate the implementation of the Provincial ICM Plan among the
relevant municipalities and city or cities within the province;

©

coordinate the efforts of provinces sharing a resource to address issues
that cut across their political boundaries;

f) coordinate the establishment and consolidation of baseline data on ICM
especially in relation to biodiversity; and

resolve conflicts arising from ICM between or among municipalities or
city or cities or between an LGU and a body managing a specially
administered area within the province.

g&

Sec. 13. Coordination of ICM Matters at City and Municipal Levels. The
City or Municipal Development Council (CDC or MDC) established pursuant to
Sec. 107 (b) of Republic Act 7160 shall be responsible for the formulation of the


ICM plan at the city level, whether highly urbanized city (HUC), independent
component city (ICC), or component city, or municipal levels, including the
implementation and coordination necessary therefor: Provided, however, That
the chairperson of the environment committee of the sangguniang panglungsod
or bayan shall serve as the second member of the city development council. In
addition to the members of the CDC and MDC, the following offices and sector
shall be represented in the Council for the purpose of coordinating the
formulation and implementation of the Plan:

a) the city or municipal fisheries office or office of the city or municipal

agriculturist;
b) the city or municipal Tourism Office; and
c) the private sector.

However, this provision shall not apply to cities or municipalities which have an
existing ICM coordinating mechanism at the time of the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 14. Additional Functions of the City or Municipal Development
Council. Aside from the functions enumerated under Sec. 109 of
Republic Act No. 7160, the City or Municipal Development Council shall:

a) formulate a City or Municipal ICM Plan in consultation with all the

barangays within the city;

b) submit the approved ICM plan to the appropriate sanggunian and
recommend the issuance of an ordinance or ordinances to facilitate the
institutionalization of ICM in the city or municipal government programs;
coordinate the implementation of the City or Municipal ICM Plan among
the relevant barangay;

d) coordinate the efforts of barangays sharing a resource to address issues
that cut across their boundaries;

€) coordinate the establishment and consolidation of baseline data on ICM
especially in relation to biodiversity; and

f) 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.

c

Sec. 15. Representation of Other Agencies and Stakeholders. Local
government units may consider the representation in their respective
development councils of other national agencies and stakeholder groups that
may be affected by the implementation of ICM.

Sec. 16. Assistance from LGUs and/or 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 local ICM
plans.

In providing technical assistance and other forms of support related to coastal
management and the implementation of development plans, national
government agencies shall give priority to LGUs with approved or existing ICM
plans.

Section 17. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting of ICM Program. The
National Coordinating Committee shall coordinate the preparation,


consolidation and submission of an initial State of the Coasts Report one year
after the effectivity of this Act based on available baseline data gathered. Every
three (3) years thereafter, the National Coordinating Committee shail
coordinate the preparation, consolidation and submission of State of the
Coasts Report on the implementation of the local ICM plans in line with the
National ICM Framework to the President. The LGUs shall submit their
respective progress reports on the implementation of their respective ICM plans
to the National Coordinating Committee.

See. 18. ICM Best Practices. The National ICM Framework and local ICM plans
shall promote the application of best practices 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;

¢) protection and rehabilitation of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass,
estuaries, and other habitats, particularly through 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 ;

©

integrated waste management, including sewage and solid, hazardous,
toxic, and other wastes by major sources;

f) natural and man-made hazards management;
g) water use and supply management;

h) payment for ecosystem services and equitable allocation of costs and
benefits;

i) integrated and baywide law enforcement;

j) disaster risk reduction and management in coastal areas;
k) climate change adaptation and mitigation in coastal areas;
1) community-led natural resource management; and

m) recognition of indigenous peoples’ concerns.

Sec. 19. Incentives. The National Coordinating Committee shall develop a
recognition and reward system for LGUs that:

a) regularly update their ICM programs or plans once every five (5) years;
and


b) exhibit exemplary performance in the development and implementation
of their respective local ICM plans in accordance with the National ICM
Framework.

The details of the recognition and reward system shall be provided in the
implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

See. 20. ICM Office. Each province may establish an ICM Office to act as the
secretariat to the Provincial Development Council with regard to ICM matters
and to monitor the implementation of the Provincial ICM Plan in consonance
with the National ICM Framework. An office or section under the Provincial
Planning and Development Coordination Office focused solely on matters or
tasks relating to ICM may serve as ICM Office. Otherwise, the Provincial
Planning and Development Coordination Office shall serve as the secretariat to
the Provincial Development Council.

Whenever the National Coordinating Committee deems it necessary, a city or
municipality shall also establish an ICM Office to act as the secretariat to the
City or Municipal Development Council with regard to ICM matters and to
monitor the implementation of the City or Municipal ICM Plan in consonance
with the Provincial ICM Plan and the National ICM Framework. An office or
section under the City or Municipal Planning and Development Coordination
Office focused solely on matters or tasks relating to ICM may serve as ICM
Office. Otherwise, the City or Municipal Planning and Development
Coordination Office shall serve as the secretariat to the City or Municipal
Development Council.

Sec. 21. Scientific Advisory Group. Each province shall, as far as practicable,
establish a Scientific Advisory Group which shall ensure that ICM
interventions have sound scientific basis. It shall be composed of the following:

a) a representative from the academe who specializes in ICM or any related
discipline;

b) a representative from the Department of Science and Technology;

c) a representative from the DENR;

d) a representative from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources;
and

e) a representative from the Philippine Association of Marine Science
(PAMS).

A city or municipality may also establish a Scientific Advisory Group for the
same purpose and the same composition as that of a province.

Sec. 22. Role of National Government Agencies. All concerned national
agencies shall support the implementation of the National ICM Framework and
local ICM plans and promote ICM best practices that fall within their respective
mandates. They shall identify, prepare, and provide policy guidance and
technical resource assistance to the DENR, the development councils, and the
LGUs in the implementation of the National ICM Framework and local ICM
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 local ICM 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 local ICM plans.

See. 23. Consistency of Local ICM Plans and National Programs and Plans with
the National ICM Framework. All LGUs and national agencies shall formulate
and implement their ICM plans and national programs and plans such as
Tourism Development Plan and Infrastructure Program, respectively, in
consonance with the National ICM Framework. Existing ICM plans shall be
reconciled and harmonized with the National ICM Framework.

Sec. 24. Specially Managed or Administered Areas. Specially managed or
administered areas such as river basins, Water Quality Management Areas
(WAQMAs) 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. 7586 or by virtue
of an ordinance, shall prepare their management plans in consonance with the
ICM National Framework and relevant local ICM plans. Their management
plans shall incorporate ICM principles and best practices taking into account
the interlinkages between and among associated watersheds and wetlands.

Sec. 25. Review of Existing ICM or Related Programs and Plans. Provinces,
cities, municipalities, especially managed or administered areas such as special
economic zones or freeport zones, bays, lakes or marine protected areas (MPAs)
with existing ICM or related programs or plans shall review, revise, reconcile,
and harmonize the same 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 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 sole reason that the new and
approved programs and plans and ZOS have determined that they should be
properly located 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. 26. Role of LGUs. All LGUs shall act as the frontline agencies in the
formulation, planning and implementation of ICM programs in their respective
coastal and marine areas. The local ICM plan 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


respective ICM plans to reflect emerging issues and changing social, economic,
and environmental conditions. Also, the LGUs shall ensure that their ICM plans
shall be reflected in their annual work and investment plans. The LGUs shall
furnish the DENR, within one month from adoption, with copies of their ICM
plans and all subsequent amendments, modifications, and revisions. LGUs
shall mobilize and allocate the necessary personnel, resources and logistics to
effectively implement their respective ICM plans. 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 priority programs.

Provincial governments shall provide technical assistance, enforcement and
information management in support of Municipal and City ICM Plans. Inter-
LGU collaboration shall be encouraged in the conduct of activities related to
protecting the country's coastal and marine resources.

See. 27. Roles of Civil Society and the Private Sector. In the development and
implementation of the ICM program, the NGOs, 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. 28. Supporting Activities. The following activities shall be undertaken in
support of the implementation of ICM programs:

a) ICM Education. The Department of Education and the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) 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;

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 source
funds for such scholarships other than LGU funds;

c) Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting and Valuation for ICM
Planning. The NEDA and the National Statistics 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.
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, LGUs, 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.

CHAPTER III
FINAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 29. Appropriations. All concerned government agencies and LGUs shall
allocate from their annual appropriations adequate funds for the
implementation of the ICM. In subsequent budget proposals, the concerned
offices and units shall appropriate funds for program/ project development and
implementation including continuing ICM capacity building, training, and
education in ICM. LGUs shall pool their resources in establishing inter-LGU
alliances in the management of shared resources such as bays, gulfs, lakes,
rivers, watersheds, marine biodiversity corridors, and marine protected area
networks within their jurisdiction.

Sec. 30. Other Funding Options. The National Coordinating Committee, the
local development councils, the LGUs, and the national government agencies
may source local and international grants, bequests, and donations in support
of ICM implementation.

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 will be made available to support local ICM programs,
including alternative livelihood projects for small-scale fisherfolks and
cooperatives.

Sec. 31. Tax exemption. All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and
contributions made to the National Coordinating Committee, the local
development councils, the LGUs, and the DENR 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 allowed as deduction from the gross income of the
donor 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. 32, Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DENR, in consultation with
concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing
rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act.

Sec. 33. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee — There is hereby
created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) to monitor
the implementation of this Act and to review the implementing rules and
regulations promulgated by the DENR for a period not exceeding five (5)
years from the effectivity of this Act. The Committee shall be composed
of five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,


respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be co-chaired by the
Chairpersons of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Ecology of the House of
Representatives.

The secretariat of the JCOC shall be drawn from existing personnel of
the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the
House of Representatives Committee on Ecology.

Sec. 34. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or provision of this
Act shall be declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 35. Repealing Clause. Section 107 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby
amended. All other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, ordinances,
rules and regulations, and issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent
with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 36. Non-impairment Clause. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to
diminish, impair, or repeal the prohibited acts under existing laws, presidential
decrees, executive orders, ordinances, rules and regulations, and other
issuances, including Republic Act No. 7586, entitled, " National Integrated
Protected Areas System Act of 1992" and Republic Act No. 8550 entitled, "The
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998".

See. 37. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,