File picture of BARMM regional headquarters
MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to establish an agency that will formulate and implement a coastal management body in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been filed by a lawmaker.
Member of the Parliament Amir Mawallil has filed Parliament Bill Number 180 that mandates the creation of the Integrated Coastal Management Council (ICMC) under the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE).
The measure stated an Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) policy and related approaches “shall be the regional management policy framework to promote the sustainable development of the region’s coastal and marine environment and resources.”
The bill directs the ministry to provide the guidelines for coastal zoning and management, including the delineation of coastal areas, identification of land uses, and regulation of activities in the coastal zone.
ICMC will also be chaired by the minister of MENRE, based on the bill.
“To ensure the continued health and productivity of the coastal environments in BARMM, it is crucial to implement measures to protect them,” Mawallil said.
These measures include regulating fishing practices, reducing pollution, and conserving habitat areas through the establishment of marine protected areas,” the member of the parliament said.
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