Circular Economy Strategies and Implementation in the Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago that is located in Southeast Asia. It is composed of 7641 islands with a total land area of 342.353 km2. The country has three major groups of islands, namely Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Both Luzon and Mindanao take a large portion of the country’s surface area while the rest are small islands. According to the World Bank, the Philippine economy is one of the most dynamic in the East Asia Pacific region citing contributing factors like increasing urbanization, middle class growth, and percentage of younger population. The dynamic characteristics of the economy have been rooted to a stronger consumer demand that is supported by a vigorous labor market and healthy remittances. The resource efficiency of the Philippines compared to Asia Pacific Region is simulated by the UNESCAP in terms of domestic material consumption, energy intensity, and water efficiency. The Philippines could reduce 41.75% domestic material consumption (DMC) intensity from 2000 to 2016, which is a significant indication of contribution towards Circular Economy. The simulation revealed that in 2016, the Philippines was more resource efficient in terms of usage of material resources compared to the Asia-Pacific regional average. The Republic Act (RA) 9003 promulgated in 2001 provided an ecological solid waste management program in the country consisting of processes such as segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes. This has featured a national target of establishing Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) in all the 42,000 barangay units. Waste management in the Philippines is controlled by both formal and informal recyclers being the key players dealing with E-waste, plastics waste, and other types of wastes in the country. A national initiative utilizing the principle of public and private partnership (PPP) has been adopted to create safe E-waste transport, storage, and disposal (TSD) for the benefit of the informal waste sectors in the country. The Philippines is already a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and strongly committed to the Sendai Framework. By 2030, the country has committed to reduce by 70% all the carbon emissions coming from the energy, transport, waste, forestry, and industry sectors. The Green Energy Option Programs in the Philippines provided option to consumers to choose renewable energy as their source of power while the country fostered three guiding principles in all the areas of energy development, namely innovation, resilience, and sustainability. Water recycling and conservation activities in the country are propagated by enjoining the public through the conduct of aggressive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns. The government has developed programs and initiatives in enhancing conservation of water and efficient procedures in averting water shortages, namely rainwater harvesting facilities, establishing water recycling technologies in the country through the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). There are other initiatives to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and resource recovery in waste sectors, water sectors, industry sectors, and others that help Philippines to move towards implementation of Circular Economy while there are many challenges. This study reviews the situation and presents the status of the implementation of circular economy strategies in the Philippines considering the targets, implementation status, legislative support, achievements, and the future plans.