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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1559

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative HON. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA
TUCP Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

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

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

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


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

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

HON! RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C, MENDOZA
TUCP Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__1559

INTRODUCED BY HON. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA
TUCP PARTY-LIST

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

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This law shall be known as “Integrated Coastal
Management Act of 2010.”

SECTION 2. Policy Statement. |t shall be the policy of the State to insure
optimum resource utilization and sustainable coastal and marine development.
Towards this end, it shall adopt Integrated Coastal Management, hereinafter
referred to as ICM, and related approaches such as coastal resource
management or coastal zone management as the national management policy
framework to promote the sustainable development cf the country’s coastal and
marine environment and resources in order to achieve food security, sustainable
livelihood, poverty alleviation and reduction of vulnerability to natural hazards,
while preserving ecological integrity.

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

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

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

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


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

public awareness programs to increase level of understanding of, and
appreciation for, the coastal and marine resources of the area, and to
promote a shared responsibility among stakeholders in the planning and
implementation of the ICM program; ;
mainstreaming ICM programs into the national and local governments’
planning and socio-economic development programs and allocating
adequate financial and human resources for implementation; ;
capacity building programs to enhance required human resource skills,
scientific input to policy and planning processes, and enforcement
mechanisms to ensure compliance with adopted rules and regulations;
integrated environmental monitoring for the purpose of measuring the
status, progress and impacts of management programs against
sustainable development indicators, as may be established, and for use in
decision-making, public awareness and performance evaluation; and
investment opportunities and sustainable financing mechanisms for
environmental protection and improvement and resource conservation.

3)

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5)

6)

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

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

2) sustainable fisheries and conservation of living resources;

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 7. LGU Responsibilities for ICM. Consistent with _ the
provisions of the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160) and the national
sustainable development policies and strategies, LGUs shall act as the frontline
agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of ICM programs in
their respective coastal and marine areas. The ICM programs of the LGU shall
be in line with the’ National ICM Program and prepared in consultation with the
relevant stakeholders. LGUs shall update their respective ICM programs to


reflect changing social, economic and environmental conditions and emerging
issues. LGUs shall furnish the DENR, within one month from adoption, with
copies of their ICM programs and all its subsequent amendments, modifications
and revisions. LGUs shall mobilize end allocate necessary personnel, resources
and logistics to effectively implement their respective ICM programs.

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

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

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

1) ICM Education. The Department of Education shalll integrate ICM into the
primary and secondary education curricula and/or subjects (ie. Science,
Biology, Sibika, History, among others), including textbooks, primers and
other educational materials, basic principles and concepts of conservation,
protection and management of country’s marine resources;

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

Government Academy and building upon existing ICM expertise and

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

Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting and Valuation for ICM

Planning. NEDA and the National Statistics Coordination Board shall

incorporate coastal and marine resource accounting in the national and

regional accounts; and

4) Coastal and Marine Environmental Information Management System.
DENR shall oversee the establishment and maintenance of a coastal and
marine envitonmental information management system and network, in
collaboration with other concerned national government agencies,
institutions and LGUs.

3}

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

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

Section 12. Other Funding Options. National government agencies
may source local and international grants and donations in support of ICM
implementation and in accordance with relevant laws. The Land Bank of the
Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, People’s Credit and Finance
Corporation and other relevant financial institutions shall formulate and identify
loan and financing mechanisms that will be made available to support local ICM


programs, including altemative livelihood projects for small-scale fishers and
cooperatives.

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

1) Enactment of Tax Ordinances;

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

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

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

5) Privatization of local government-owned enterprises;

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

exclusive use of coastal water areas for commercial and leisure

purposes and other environmental services;

Public-Private Partnership Schemes under the Build Operate

Transfer Law (Republic Act 6957 as amended by Republic Act

7718) and related laws;

8) Arrange credit financing schemes; and

9) Raise income through Inter-LGU cooperation.

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

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

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

Approved,