Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ino, 0672

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Maria Lourdes 0. 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-BFAR 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 country’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, | would like to work for the passage of the subject bill into
law.

aes 0. ACOSTA-ALBA


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5672

House Bill No.

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 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 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;

b. 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

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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 reef’, 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;

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;

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

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
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management interventions in support of sustainable coastal development and evaluate
progress towards local, national, and international targets for sustainable development.

CHAPTER II
INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Sec. 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;

©) 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);

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

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

g) arepresentative 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-officio 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;

d) resolve conflicts arising from ICM between or among provinces; and

e) 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

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;

) information and public awareness campaign;

) financing mechanisms; and

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;

) 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;

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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

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.

i

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
©) 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:

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;

°)

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;

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

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

g) 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.

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.

See. 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
barang; ‘

4) 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.

See. 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 shall 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.

Sec. 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;

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

h) payment for ecosystem services and equitable allocation of costs and benefits;
j) integrated and baywide law enforcement;

j) disaster risk reduction and management in coastal areas;

pa)

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.

Sec. 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;

¢) arepresentative from the DENR;

d) arepresentative from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; and

e) arepresentative 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 concemed 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.

Sec. 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
9


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.

Section 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.

Section 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;

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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.

See. 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.

See. 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.

coe


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.

See. 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”.

Sec. 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,

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