Policy on Integrated Coastal Management

ICM covers all coastal and marine areas, including linked watersheds, estuaries, wetlands, and coastal seas.
Implementation involves all relevant national and local government agencies.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall develop the National ICM Programme within one year.
Development will be in consultation with agencies, sectors, and stakeholders.
The programme will set principles, strategies, action plans, targets, and a coordinating mechanism balancing national and local priorities.

Establishment of an interagency and multi-sectoral coordinating mechanism.
Formulation of long-term coastal strategies and fixed-term action programmes.
Public awareness initiatives to promote shared responsibility.
Mainstream ICM into national and local development planning with adequate resource allocation.
Capacity building for human resources, scientific input, and enforcement.
Integrated environmental monitoring to track status, impacts, and inform decisions.
Sustainable financing and investment mechanisms.
Promotion of best practices including use zonation, sustainable fisheries, habitat protection, watershed management, integrated waste management, port safety, and private sector involvement.

All concerned agencies to support ICM implementation and promote best practices within mandates.
Agencies including Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Transportation, Finance, Tourism, Health, Education, Foreign Affairs, Science and Technology, Energy, National Defense, NEDA, Social Welfare, Labor, and Justice to provide policy guidance, technical support, and enforcement assistance.
Agencies to consult with local government units (LGUs) on national plans affecting coastal areas.

LGUs serve as frontline agencies for formulation, planning, and implementation of ICM programmes.
LGU programmes must align with the National ICM Programme and involve stakeholder consultation.
LGUs to regularly update programmes based on changing conditions.
LGUs must furnish copies of programmes and amendments to DENR.
LGUs to allocate necessary human, financial, and logistical resources.
Barangays are to be involved in prioritizing and implementing coastal solutions.
Provincial governments provide support through technical assistance and enforcement.
Emphasis on inter-LGU cooperation for resource sustainability.

Engagement of NGOs, academia, people’s organizations, private and corporate sectors in planning, organizing, research, technology transfer, information sharing, investment, and training.

ICM Education: Integration into primary and secondary education curricula by the Department of Education.
LGU Training: DENR and DILG to develop training for LGUs using existing expertise.
Environmental and Natural Resource Accounting: NEDA and NSCB to integrate coastal resource accounting.
Environmental Information Management System: DENR to establish and maintain coastal and marine environmental data networks.

DENR to submit annual reports on National ICM Programme progress to the President.
LGUs to submit annual progress reports to DENR.

National agencies and LGUs to allocate sufficient funds from existing budgets.
Future budget proposals to include ICM program financing.
National agencies may source grants and donations compliant with laws.
Financial institutions to develop loan and financing schemes supporting local ICM and alternative livelihoods.
LGUs empowered to raise revenue through multiple legal means including tax ordinances, revenue allotment, user fees, privatization, partnerships, and inter-LGU cooperation.

All inconsistent prior executive and administrative issuances are repealed or amended.
The Order is effective immediately upon issuance.