Abstract
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.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abrina D (2018, November 16) Cavite town’s ‘plastic waste for rice’ project gains ground. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1054066
Adedeji O, Okocha R, Olatoye O (2014) Global climate change. J Geosci Environ Protection 2(2):114–122. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2014.22016
APEC (2020a) APEC Regional trends analysis. Retrieved from https://www.apec.org/Publications/2020/01/Circular-Economy%2D%2D-Dont-Let-Waste-Go-to-Waste
APEC (2020b) Don’t let waste go to waste: pivoting to a circular economy. Retrieved from www.apec.org/publications
Arado J (2017) Plastics group crafts industry roadmap, Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/163390
Ballesteros F (2016) Current status of e-waste management and recycling in the Philippines. In Proceedings of the International Join Forum on Recycling Policy and Technology of E-Waste, Philippines
Ballesteros F Jr, Galang M (2018) Estimation of waste mobile phones in the Philippines using artificial neural networks. Global NEST J 20(4):767–772. https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.002534
BCRUPD (2020a) The Project. Retrieved from https://designingresilience.ph/about/
BCRUPD (2020b) Institutional support to Philippine national government agencies on building capacities of local government units to develop climate resilient urban plans and designs. Retrieved from http://unhabitat.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/BCRUPD-Project-Brief-v.3-A4_Digital.pdf
Buendia LV, Lasco RD, Biona JBB, Badrina RB, Baviera MS, De Jesus AC, Dela Torre DMG, Demafelis RB, Pulhin FB, Recabar SG, Ruzol CD, Tamayo EGT., Tapia MA, Tongko-Magadia B, Sabino LL, Sabino NG (2018) 2018 Philippine climate change assessment: mitigation of climate change. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334162270_2018_Philippine_Climate_Change_Assessment_Mitigation_of_Climate_Change
de Vera B (2020, June) PH seen achieving upper middle-income status this year despite COVID-19. Business Inquirer. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/292637/ph-seen-achieving-upper-middle-income-status-this-year-despite-covid-19#ixzz6U8iezbzg
Department of Energy (2018) Philippine energy plan 2017–2040: Sectorial plans and roadmaps. Retrieved fro https://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/pep/pep_volume_2_sectoral_plans_and_roadmaps.pdf
Doquila G (2018 July) Fisheries down due to climate change. Sunstar Davao. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1755002/Davao/Business/Fisheries-down-due-to-climate-change
Eckstein D, Hutfils ML, Winges M (2018) Global climate risk index 2019: Who suffers most from extreme weather events? Weather-related loss events in 2017 and 1998 to 2017. Retrieved from https://germanwatch.org/files/Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202019_2.pdf
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) (2018) Chapter 2: Current status of automobile recycling in the targeted countries. Retrieved from https://www.eria.org/uploads/media/7.RPR_FY2017_16_Chapter_2.pdf
Flores H (2018) Climate change vulnerability: Philippines ranks 3rd”. Philstar. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/03/21/1798866/climate-change-vulnerability-philippines-ranks-3rd
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2011) Irrigation in Southern and Eastern Asia in figures - Aquastat Survey. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/countries_regions/PHL/PHL-CP_eng.pdf
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/United Nations (FAO/UN) WATER (2009) GCP/GLO/182/MUL. BTOR Philippines
France-Presse A (2013, October) The deadliest natural disasters in the Philippines. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/507589/the-deadliest-natural-disasters-in-the-philippines
Geganto N (2018) Greening The Roadmap For The Philippine Pulp And Paper Industry. Retrieved from http://www.boi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Greening-the-Roadmap-of-the-Philippine-Pulp-and-Paper-Industry.pdf
Ghosh SK (2020) Circular economy: global perspective [E-book]. Springer Nature, Basingstoke. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1052-6
Hew D (2020) COVID-19 and the circular economy [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.apec.org/Press/Blogs/2020/0528_COVID
Hilario S (2019) Circular economy: where is the Philippines Headed? Retrieved from https://www.parabukas.com/blog/2018/9/11/circular-economy-ph
Inocencio AB, Elazegui DD, Luyun RA, Rola AC (2018) Agricultural water management issues in the Philippines. Water policy in the Philippines. In: Rola A, Pulhin J, Arcala Hall R (eds) Water policy in the Philippines. Global issues in water policy, vol 8. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 117–141. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-70969-7_6
Ipac JK (2019) Philippine progress in implementing SDG 12: ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. In: Paper presented during the 5th regional conference on SDG 12 implementation, 26–27 March 2019. PDR, Lao
Kabagani (2019, November 21) Solon pushes to ramp up climate change measures. Philippine News Agency, Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086698
Knoema (2017a) Philippines internal renewable water resources. Retrieved from https://knoema.com/atlas/Philippines/topics/Water/Internal-Renewable-Water-Resources/Internal-renewable-water-resources
Knoema (2017b) Philippines Total Renewable Water Resources per Capita. Retrieved from https://knoema.com/atlas/Philippines/topics/Water/Total-Renewable-Water-Resources/Renewable-water-resources-per-capita
Kojima M (2018) Vehicle Recycling in the ASEAN and other ASEAN Countries. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11540/9394
Migo VP, Mendoza MD, Alfafara CG, Pulhin JM (2018) Industrial water use and the associated pollution and disposal problems in the Philippines. Water Policy Philippines Global Iss Water Policy 8(1):87–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70969-7_5
Montero E, Hapinat H, Penaflorida M (2019) Waste analysis and characterization study (WACS): measures towards effective Municipal Waste Management in Batad, Iloilo, Philippines. Food and Fertilizer Technology for the Asian and Pacific Region. Retrieved from https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/1650
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) (2017) Vigorously advancing science, technology and innovation. Socioeconomic report 2017, 11-124. Retrieved from http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SER-Chap-14_as-of-May-8.pdf\
National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) (2015) National solid waste management status report (2004–2014). Retrieved from https://nswmc.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Solid-Wastefinaldraft-12.29.15.pdf
National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) (2015) 2014 Annual growth rate still at 6.1 percent. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved from http://www.nscb.gov.ph/announce/2015/27May_revisedQ42014.asp
NSWMC, DENR and IGES (eds.) (2019) National strategy to reduce short-lived climate pollutants from municipal solid waste sector in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.iges.or.jp/en/publication_documents/pub/policysubmission/en/6987/National+Strategy+to+reduce+short+lived+climate+pollutants.pdf
Padagdag JM (2018, May 11) The Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system [Country Report] Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC). Retrieved from https://www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=608&Lang=en&NationNum=14
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration [PAGASA] (n.d.) Climate of the Philippines. Retrieved from http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-philippines
PSA (2017) Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI). Philippine Statistical Authority. Retrieved from
RA 10174. Climate Change Act of 2009 as amended. Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/08/16/republic-act-no-10174/
RA 10771. Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016 Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2016/04/29/republic-act-no-10771/
Republic of the Philippines, RA 9729. The Climate Change Act of 2009. Retrieved from http://emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/RA-9003.pdf
Romero (2019) Connecting the dots: Innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste and mitigate climate change impacts. Philippine EnviroNews. Retrieved from http://environews.ph/health/connecting-the-dots-innovative-solutions-to-reduce-plastic-waste-and-mitigate-climate-change-impacts
Salva A, Banaguas G (2012) University-based disaster risk management (UBDRM) for De La Salle Araneta university. Lagumlalang Refereed J Interdisciplinary Synthesis 1(2):1. Retrieved from https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=3001
Sartal A, Ozcelik N, Rodriguez M (2020) Bringing the circular economy closer to small and medium enterprises: improving water circularity without damaging plant productivity. J Clean Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clepro.2020.120363
Sta Romana L (2017) Sustainable consumption and production in the Philippines, In: Sustainable Asia-supporting transition to sustainable consumption and production in Asian developing countries, Retrieved from https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/sites/default/files/10_scp_in_the_philippines.pdf
The Manila Times (2018, May 20) QC trains thousands on urban farming. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/2018/11/04/news/top-stories/qc-trains-thousands-on-urban-farming/461918
Wijayasundara M (2020) Opportunities for a circular economy post COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/opportunities-circular-economy-post-covid-19/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Figueroa, A.M.I. et al. (2021). Circular Economy Strategies and Implementation in the Philippines. In: Ghosh, S.K., Ghosh, S.K. (eds) Circular Economy: Recent Trends in Global Perspective. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0913-8_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0913-8_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-0912-1
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-0913-8
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)