Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 533)
Executive Order No. 533 adopts Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as the national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the country's coastal and marine environment and resources.
ICM shall be implemented in all coastal and marine areas, addressing the inter-linkages among associated watersheds, estuaries, wetlands, and coastal seas by all relevant national and local agencies.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in consultation with other concerned agencies, sectors, and stakeholders, is tasked with developing the National ICM Programme.
Key elements include an interagency multi-sectoral coordinating mechanism, coastal strategies and action plans, public awareness programs, mainstreaming ICM into planning and development programs, capacity building, integrated environmental monitoring, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
LGUs act as frontline agencies in the formulation, planning, and implementation of ICM programmes in their areas. They must align local ICM plans with the National ICM Programme, update their plans regularly, allocate resources, involve barangays, and consider ICM a regular government function.
The NGOs, civic organizations, academe, people’s organizations, private and corporate sectors shall be engaged in planning, community organizing, research, technology transfer, information sharing, investment, and training related to ICM.
The Department of Education is mandated to integrate ICM concepts into primary and secondary curricula and develop educational materials on conservation and management of marine resources.
The DENR and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the Local Government Academy, shall develop and provide ICM training programs for LGUs.
National agencies and LGUs are to allocate budget from existing funds, seek local and international grants and donations, and financial institutions shall develop loan and financing mechanisms; LGUs may also raise funds via tax ordinances, revenue allocation, loans, public-private partnerships, and other mechanisms.
The DENR shall prepare and submit an annual progress report on the National ICM Programme to the President; LGUs shall report annually to the DENR on local ICM implementation.