Workshop for the Implementation of ICM as National Strategy

Quezon City, Philippines — The Government of the Philippines, in cooperation with the PEMSEA Resource Facility, conducted a Seminar/Workshop for the Implementation of Executive Order No. 533. The Executive Order was issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 7 June 2006, adopting integrated coastal management (ICM) as the national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the Philippines' coastal and marine environment and resources.

 

The objective of the Seminar was to orient the officials of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the principles of ICM and approaches to ICM scaling up, covering the various topics, including: components of PEMSEA's sustainable development framework for coastal areas; essentials of ICM program development and implementation; and practical approaches and strategies to improve management of ICM programme activities. The objective of the seminar was to build and develop a strong core of ICM practitioners who will effectively establish and implement the National Integrated Coastal Management Program mandated under E.O. 533.Participants to the seminar were 45 officials and staff of the DENR composed of the Regional Technical Directors for Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management; Chiefs of the Coastal and Marine Management Divisions from the 14 regional offices of the DENR; technical staff from the various bureaus and offices, and staff from the Philippines' PEMSEA Coordinating Office. During the workshop, the participants identified the challenges and issues that they will meet in ICM implementation and scaling up. Likewise, they identified critical steps in ensuring the smooth implementation of ICM in priority bays, provinces and municipalities.The Workshop was held from 17-19 December 2007 at the PEMSEA Office Building in Quezon City, Philippines.