MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified 10 local government units (LGUs) that will be considered for the 60-million euro grant for local circular economy, solid waste management, and climate change mitigation measures.

“The 60 million (euro) grant is an offer by the EU (European Union) principally for the purpose that you just mentioned. The details of which still have to be worked out and defended at the NEDA-ICC (National Economic Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Committee). So, we’re in the process of actually putting the necessary documentation together,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

“We are targeting to have all our submissions ready hopefully for assessment by the NEDA Board by November of this year,” she said.
 
The DENR signed a joint declaration for the Green Economy Program in the Philippines during the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week.

Highly urbanized LGUs being considered include Baguio City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Davao City, as well as Ormoc City, Island Garden City of Samal, Metro Iloilo and the islands of Palawan and Siargao.

Although the details of the projects are not yet complete, Yulo-Loyzaga said that the DENR has identified the potential LGUs because they are the frontliners in solid waste management efforts in the country, particularly in controlling methane releases from solid waste landfills.

Asked by reporters about the primary LGU concern in terms of solid waste management, the DENR chief said that each stage is still a challenge especially on how to capture what would be part of both the formal and informal economic activities.

She mentioned waste collection as one of the challenges because this involves logistics and personnel who will collect and properly process wastes in available materials recovery facilities.

“As you know, sanitary landfills are among the main ways that this waste are now disposed of and monitoring the quality of the environment around the sanitary landfills is of course always a challenge ‘no, how the management processes are actually abided by in terms of the ecological soundness of the practices,” she explained.
 
“We are still in need of some institutionalization in terms of the way our solid wastes are handled locally and consequently our national capacity.”
 
While awaiting the NEDA approval of the submissions, Yulo-Loyzaga said the agency will be focusing on its own efforts to push for green economy based on existing policies and regulations.

“In the meantime though, we are embarking on our own efforts to green our economy already, given that we have in place the legislation that we need especially to oblige those large enterprises that actually are the main sources of plastic packaging to begin their collection and to begin their proper disposal of their packaging products,” she said.

The Philippines generates about 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily, with about up to 24 percent composed of plastic waste.

Filipinos consume and utilize over a hundred and sixty million plastic sachet packets and over 40 million shopping bags and thin film bags a day, materials that are being prevented by the government from reaching the country’s marine and coastal areas because of their harmful effect. (PND)