CB-FIRM (Community Based - Fishery Integrated Resource Management) is the framework that guides CERD in its implementation of programs.
CB-FIRM believes in the idea that the aquatic coastal resources can be divided into 2 major categories:

1. Fish habitat which includes corals, seagrass, mangrove and the water habitat.
2. Standing fish stock.

CERD views the fishery as a distinct and priority resource when it comes to coastal resource management. National fisheries are a major economic resource with water habitat comprising more than 80% of the country’s total territorial area (both land and water). In fact, the fishery has long been developed as an industry that supplies the cheap source of protein for human beings. Fisheries include catching, culturing and processing of fish and shellfish and other aquatic products that are found in the aquatic environment.

1. FIRMED (Fishery Integrated Resource Management for Economic Development)

CERD utilizes the FIRMED program to address the needs of fisherfolk. In this way we are able to facilitate the formation and strengthening of fisherfolk organizations at the barangay, municipal and bay levels. Thus, coastal communities are able to engage in sustainable fisheries management, advocacy and local governance, and livelihood development.
The program employs a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates these development strategies:

• Community organizing and capability building
• Sustainable fisheries development
• Human resource development
• Livelihood development
• Advocacy and local governance

Current FIRMED regional programs:

• Biri Program
• Mondragon Program
• Samar Sea Program
• Surigao del Sur program

Legacy programs:

• Batangas
• Maqueda Bay

2. Gender Program

The Gender Mainstreaming / Gender-Fair CBCRM (Community-Based Coastal Resource Management) program facilitates the development of gender-responsive projects among coastal communities.  It provides relevant interventions at the community level through research, capacity building, creation of mechanisms for equal participation of men and women in development activities and decision making processes.
This program also seeks to sharpen analysis of women and gender issues in the fisheries sector and coastal communities.
Two projects currently undertaken:

• Enhancing Gender Relations in Coastal Resource Management in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
• Transforming Communities for Gender Fair CBCRM in Samar Sea, Sorsogon, and Calatagan, Batangas.

3. CCEDAP (Coastal Community Enterprise Development Assistance Program)

CCEDAP is a savings, credit and entrepreneurial development program. It provides financial and technical assistance to the community-based organizations and local entrepreneurs through:

• Provision of resources for project start-up
• Technical and enterprise management skills development
• Building and developing market and market linkages
• Product and technology development

4. Promotion and Advocacy of CB-FIRM and Sustainable Fisheries Management

Documentation of experiences in community-based coastal resource management for print and multi-media production as advocacy information and education materials.
Partnership building with either NGOs, academe, local and national government agencies, LGUs, legal groups for the implementation and advocacy of CBCRM.

5. Training and Consultancy Services

Training and Consultancy Service aims to develop the capacities and competence of people’s organizations (POs), local government units and agencies (LGUs and LGAs), and other NGOs on:

• Resource Ecological Assessment
• Project Development
• Institution Building
• Gender and Coastal Resource Management
• CRM and Fisheries Management Training