Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIENTH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Honorable ANIELA BIANCA D. TOLENTINO 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is a need to ensure the sustainable management of the coastal and marine 
environment and resources of the Philippines. The bill herein is for such purpose and this 
representation is humbly seeking its passage into law this 20th Congress because the same 
did not finish the legislative process for it to become a statute. The vision and provisions 
in the foregoing provision views at the interconnectivity of ecosystems from the 
watersheds to the coastal and marine areas.  
The proposed measure also aims to adopt an 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. This 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. 
It should be highlighted that the Constitution mandates that: “The State shall 
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord 
with the rhythm and harmony of nature” [Section 16, Article II]. The passage of the 
proposed legislation will be part of concretizing the aforesaid constitutional decree that 
will definitely redound to the benefit of all Filipinos. 
For the Filipino people, approval of this bill is earnestly being sought. 
August 12, 2025
8:00 am
3509


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIENTH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Honorable ANIELA BIANCA D. TOLENTINO 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
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 FROM RIDGE-TO-
REEF, ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT ACTION PLAN, 
OTHER SUPPORTING MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 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. 
3509


SEC. 3. Scope and Coverage. – Integrated Coastal Management 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:  
 
(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 (AIP) 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 line 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 Scrub – shrubs and low trees, e.g., Scaevola taccada, Dendrolobium 
umbellatum;  
(3) Casuarina equisetifolia (Agoho) Forest – common pioneer on sandy 
beaches; and  
(4) Mixed Littoral Forest – plentiful vines, palms 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 a 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 zone) towards land, or extending from the seaward edge of beach forest 
(high tide line) towards land, in cases where mangroves are absent.  Its function 
is to absorb wave energy during storms thereby reducing wave damage, 
preventing coastal erosion, and protecting human 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 the 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, disease, 
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 of the 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) 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 
adaptation 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 Section 14 of 
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 inland 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 alba. The mid zone is 
dominated by Rhizophora species, Sonneratia caseolaris, Xylocarpus granatum and 
Nypa fruticans while the landward zone or areas with higher elevation are inhabited 
by Avicennia rumphiana, A. officinalis, and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza;  
 
(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 plan 
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 
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 Coordinating Committee on ICM. – There is hereby 
established a National Coordinating Committee on ICM (NCC), to coordinate the review 
and implementation of the National ICM Framework.  
 
The NCC shall be composed of the following members: 
 
(a) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 
who shall act as Chairperson; 
 
(b) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Co-chairperson; 


(c) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as Vice 
Chairperson; 
 
(d) Vice Chairperson of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) as Vice 
Chairperson; 
(e) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
 
(f) Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); 
 
(g) Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT);  
 
(h) Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);  
 
(i) Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development 
(DHSUD);  
 
(j) Chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
(NDRRMC);  
 
(k) Executive Director of the National Commission on Women (NCW); 
 
(l) Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); 
 
(m)  Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG);  
 
(n) Director of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP- MG);  
 
(o) Representative from the academe who specializes in ICM; 
 
(p) Representative from non-government organizations dealing with coastal 
management or fisheries;  
 
(q) Representative from the private sector;  
 
(r) Representative from artisanal fisherfolk basic sector representative of the 
National Anti-Poverty Commission;  
 
(s) Representative from the National or Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource 
Management Councils (FARMCs); and  
 
(t) Representative from any other organizations not mentioned above as the NCC 
may deem necessary.  
 


The ex-officio members of the NCC may designate their respective permanent 
representatives to the NCC: 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 duly 
authorized by the permanent representative 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 NCC from a list of nominees proposed by its member agencies.  Each 
representative shall serve as a member of the NCC for a period of six (6) years, subject 
to renewal to be decided by the majority of the members of the NCC 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 shall be created for the coordination of the 
national scientific and technical matters, and to support the NCC in the implementation 
of its powers and functions under Section 8 of this Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Meetings of the National Coordinating Committee. – The NCC shall 
meet once every three (3) months, or as often as may be deemed necessary.  
 
SEC. 7. Secretariat.  – The DENR shall provide a secretariat to the NCC to be 
manned by the organic personnel of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and may 
be augmented by the employees from member-agencies of the NCC, 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 Coordinating Committee 
on ICM. – The NCC 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, LGUs, sectors, and 
stakeholders, within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act; 
 
(b) Identify and delineate, after prior consultation with the designated LGUs 
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 (IEC) 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 learnings 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  


 
(l) Create a National Technical Working Group in support of the NCC 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 NCC 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, 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; 
 
(h) Investment opportunities and sustainable financing 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; 
 
(l) 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 resiliency to deliver the goods and services; and policy and functional 
integration, coordination, and adaptive management that guide the ICM practice. The 
NCC shall finalize the National ICM Framework within twelve (12) months from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 10. Coordination of ICM Programs, Plans, 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, Plans, 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”, 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 Sanggunian 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 Palawan (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 DHSUD;  
 
(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, watersheds, 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. 
 
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 plans, 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 efforts of provinces sharing a resource to address issues that 
cut across their political boundaries;  
 
(c) Coordinate the establishment and consolidation of baseline data on ICM 
especially in relation to biodiversity; 
 
(d) 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 Sections 118 and 119 of Republic Act No. 
7160 and its implementing rules and regulations; 
 


(e) Coordinate the efforts of provinces, cities, and municipalities with shared 
coastal ecosystems and resources, to address issues that transcend their 
political boundaries;  
 
(f) Consult cities and municipalities on the development of the provincial ICM plan; 
and 
 
(g) Provide technical advisory and assistance to city and municipal LGUs 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 NCC. 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 Panglungsod 
or 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 Resources; 
 
(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 Act 
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-
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 or 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 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 
NCC 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 NCC 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 NCC through the DENR.  
 
The NCC 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 NCC 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 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; 
 
(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 NCC 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 NCC 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.  
 


SEC. 24. Role of National Government Agencies. – All concerned national 
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-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 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 CDPs. The LGUs shall furnish the NCC 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; 
 
(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 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, 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. 
 
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 (ENR) 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 Plan. – The NCC 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 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 the Philippines”, 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 beach 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 breakwaters, 
permanent residential or commercial structures, and the like, in the identified 
priority coastal greenbelts. The NCGAP shall indicate that the declaration of 
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 the first 
year of implementation of the NCGAP; and 
 
(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, AUU 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, subject 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 NCC 
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.  
 
AUU 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 NCC.  
 


Sec. 33. Implementation of the NCGAP. – In addition to the functions of the 
NCC in Section 8 of this Act, the NCC 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 of the NCC are 
immediately executable based on the agreed NCGAP-responsive LCCAP, and on NCC 
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 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 NCC.  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 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 (₱50,000.00) 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 
(₱50,000.00) per day from the time the structure was built until its removal.  
 
(c) A crime or offense committed within designated coastal greenbelt areas shall 
subject the offender to a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(₱100,000.00) and not more than Five Million Pesos (₱5,000,000.00), 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 in accordance with Section 39 of 
this Act, shall be subject to an administrative fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(₱50,000.00) 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 
Appropriations Act.  
 
The LGUs concerned may provide the necessary funds for the purpose, in their 
respective annual budgets.  
 
SEC. 37. Other Funding Options. – The NCC, 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 alternative livelihood 
projects for small-scale fisherfolks and cooperatives.  
 
SEC. 38. Tax exemption. – All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and 
contributions made to the NCC,  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 NCC shall submit an annual report to Congress 
of the Philippines and 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. 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 DA, DENR, DHSUD, and CCC 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 Senate Committee on Environment, 
Natural Resources and Climate Change and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Climate Change. 
 
The secretariat of the JCOC shall be drawn from existing personnel of the Senate 
Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, and House of 
Representatives Committee on Climate Change.  
 
SEC. 42. Separability Clause. – If any of the sections or provisions of this Act 
is held invalid, all other  provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
 
SEC. 43. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, orders, resolutions, 
instructions, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 44. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,