PEMSEA Awards ICM System Certification to Deserving Sites in East Asia

In 2015 PEMSEA established and implemented the ICM System Certification of its services. The ICM System Certification formally assess, acknowledges and certifies that a local government’s ICM system conforms to the requirements of the ICM Code. The ICM Code details good governance practices for an ICM system, including a long-term vision and strategy for the coastal area, an implementation plan, a multisectoral coordinating mechanism and supporting legislation, as well as enabling conditions for public awareness, capacity development and financing mechanisms. In addition to governance, the ICM Code covers the development and implementation of management programs to address priority issues including: natural and man-made hazard prevention and management; habitat protection, restoration and management; water use and supply management; food security and livelihood management; and pollution reduction and waste management.

 

Acknowledging the contribution of local governments in the sustainable development of the Seas of East Asia through their Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) system, PEMSEA announces the certification and upgrading to the next level of certification of selected ICM sites in the region. PEMSEA’s ICM System Certification is designed to review and assess the local governments’ implementation of the ICM system and to recognize their continuous improvement and exceptionally good performance.  

 

In line with ICM System Certification the PRF conducted the assessment of four local governments’ ICM Systems based on the requirements of the ICM System Level 1 Certification: Proficient ICM Governance Level; and the ICM System Level 2 Certification - Effective ICM System Level. The assessment covered the thorough evaluation of the elements of the ICM System including the establishment and effective implementation of: ICM Coordinating Mechanism; ICM Project Office; Work plan, Budget and Financing; State of Coast; Stakeholder Participation; Coastal Strategy; as well as the implementation and success of good practices in Sustainable Development Aspects. Based on the results of the assessments conducted last September to October 2022, PEMSEA awards the ICM System Certification to:

 

ICM System Level 1 Certification: Proficient ICM Governance Level:

 

o Indonesia: Tangerang Regency

ICM System Level 2 Certification: Effective ICM System Level

o Cambodia: Preah Sihanouk

o Philippines: Province of Guimaras

o Vietnam: City of Danang

 

PEMSEA wishes to congratulate the local governments certified to ICM System Level 1 and upgraded to ICM System Level 2, and acknowledge their commitment to protect the environment and fulfill the needs and expectations of their stakeholders through ICM.

 

PEMSEA is encouraging other local governments to pursue certification of their ICM system; and for those already certified, PEMSEA is also encouraging these local governments to continually improve their established system to achieve better benefits and measured success, and to pursue higher levels of certification for their ICM system.

 

Further information on ICM Certification

 

The ICM System Certification is structured as a tri-level approach to encourage local government to strive for excellence through continuous improvement. The Three Levels of Certification are:

 

• Level 1: Proficient ICM Governance Level (The ICM System is developed and implemented compliant with the Level 1 Requirements of the ICM Code);
   
• Level 2: Effective ICM System Level (Significant progress in building sound process and environmental benefits demonstrated in priority areas and consistent with requirements of ISO 14001 and ISO 9001);
   
• Level 3: Blue Economy Level (High level of excellence in ICM with sustainable development benefits demonstrated, maintained and continually improved).
   

Certified local governments have gained substantial benefits from using the ICM Code and the ICM System Certification, this includes:

 

• Improvement of credibility and image of the certified local government – as the ICM System Certification uses the ICM Code that was developed based on best practices in ICM and the international standards for quality and environmental management systems (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 internationally recognized standard).
   
• Enhancement of citizens’, stakeholders’, funding agencies’ and interested parties’ confidence in the local government and their institution as it shows that the local government has established and implemented the ICM System properly following the framework, processes and dynamics of an ICM and the international stands for management systems.
   
• Helps local governments to move the process forward to establish (for new sites); and improve and sustain (for mature sites) an ICM system.
   
• Drives the local governments to achieve improved results in sustainable development as the PEMSEA certification process goes beyond the typical trend using the concept of “compliance” to standard, as the PEMSEA assessment criteria involved the evaluation of the degree of performance/impact achieved through the implementation of the ICM system.
   

ICM System Certification Process for the Province of Guimaras; Preah Sihanouk, City of Danang and Tangerang Regency

 

In April of 2022, the PRF conducted workshops/webinars for the ICM System Certification Level 1 and Level 2 to discuss the process of the ICM System Certification (Initial Status Review; ICM System Strategic Planning; Documentation and Implementation; and Review and Improvement) as well as the required documentation for the ICM System certification. The site compiled the documents related to the ICM strategic planning; and the elements of the ICM System. The sites also drafted their respective ICM System Manuals. The sites conducted the review and improvement of the management system as well as the review of the implementation and preparation of data and records of the good practices to address its sustainable development aspect. The PRF then conducted the level 2 assessment for the Province of Guimaras last August 10,11 and 31, 2022; for the Preah Sihanouk Province last September 22,23 and October 8, 2022; for City of Danang last September 29, 30 and October 7, 2022. PRF also conducted the ICM System Level 1 Assessment for Tangerang Regency last October 11, 2022.

 

The ICM System Level 2 assessment results for the province of Guimaras, Preah Sihanouk and City od Danang indicated that the established ICM systems has been institutionalized and has been integrated in the main function of their respective local governments. The audit also confirmed the successful implementation of sustainable development aspects programs and good practices that resulted in the reduction of environmental stress in different the areas: for the Province of Guimaras: habitat protection and restoration management, water use and pollution reduction and waste management; for Preah Sihanouk: habitat protection and restoration management, tourism and livelihood, pollution and waste management, and beach management; For City of Danang: tourism, livelihood and oil spill and disaster risk response.

 

Likewise, the ICM System Level 1 assessment of the Tangerang Regency showed that its ICM System is established and operational and projects to address sustainable development aspects on habitat protection (management ecosystem services of mangroves) and integrated tourism development are planned and initiated.