Iloilo joins UNDP circular economy workshop in Japan

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Government is exploring stronger regulatory and financing mechanisms for plastic waste management after participating in a five-day Regional Workshop on Circular Economy organized by the United Nations Development Programme in Yokohama, Japan.

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who represented the provincial government, said the delegation gained firsthand insights from experts of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, particularly on Japan’s Plastic Resource Circulation Act.

The law is part of Japan’s broader strategy to transition to a circular economy, including plans to develop what is projected to become an JPY 80 trillion plastic resource industry by 2030.

Banias said one key lesson from the sessions was Japan’s subsidy framework for marine debris cleanup, under which the national government covers 70 to 90 percent of costs for local government units.

He said such financing mechanisms could serve as reference points for strengthening local environmental programs in Iloilo.

He also cited the Kanagawa Coastal Environment Foundation, which mobilizes about 150,000 volunteers annually to help maintain 150 kilometers of coastline, underscoring the role of community participation in sustaining environmental initiatives.

“Can’t wait to share these regulatory frameworks and financing mechanisms with the team back home to level up our own plastic waste management in Iloilo,” Banias said.

In a separate update from the workshop, Banias shared insights from breakout sessions on extended producer responsibility, a policy approach that holds producers accountable for the full lifecycle of their plastic products.

He also presented Iloilo’s circular economy initiatives, including a post-election project that collected and upcycled used plastic campaign tarpaulins into functional bags in partnership with UNDP Philippines and The Coca-Cola Foundation.

“Together, we are proving that ‘waste’ is just a resource in the wrong place,” Banias said, adding that while circular economy policies may be global, their impact is realized through local action.

The workshop forms part of broader regional efforts to advance sustainable production systems and circular economy practices across Asia, as governments seek to curb plastic pollution and promote resource efficiency.