The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) concluded its
inaugural Road to Zero Waste Summit 2024 on November 5 to 6 at the Bayanihan
Center in Pasig City. The event was a significant milestone in the agency’s
ongoing efforts to take the initial step toward a transformative 10-year zero
waste program for Metro Manila, protecting the environment, the existing
landfills, and the overall well-being of its stakeholders.
One of the highlights of the summit was the Pledge of Commitment, where
MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando S. Artes together with MMDA General Manager
Procopio G. Lipana, Vice Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management
Commission Commissioner Crispian Lao, and LLDA Acting General Manager Atty.
Senando A. Santiago signed the pledge, symbolizing their shared dedication to
achieving a zero waste Metro Manila.
Notable attendees including City of Malabon Mayor Hon. Jeannie L. Sandoval, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Atty. Jonas R. Leones, and DILG Assistant Secretary for Local Government Atty. Jessi Howard S. Lanete, were also present as witnesses to a total of 25 waste recyclers who pledged their commitment in supporting the MMDA’s Road to Zero Waste 10-Year Program through integrating strategies, systems, resources, and technologies—making the shift to a circular economy possible through a whole-of-nation approach.
According to MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando S. Artes, “The program covers
all types of waste that will employ sustainable, practical, and preferable
local solutions and methods. This marks the beginning of a dynamic
collaboration between the government and private sector intended to bridge the
gap in promoting environmental sustainability through the ecological use of
solid waste as a resource. We are grateful to our partners, recyclers who put
up these exhibits and who tirelessly explore ways and innovations to make solid
waste usable and not something to be discarded. MMDA is with you in pursuing
such initiatives.”
A Platform
for Collaboration and Innovation
The summit featured 16 panel discussions, 5 breakout sessions, and 30
exhibit booths, all focusing on raising the level of public awareness and
participation on adopting SWM best practices in communities – such as food
waste composting methods and technologies, recycling of PET bottles and other
plastics, and interventions through resource recovery facilities that establish
a systemic, comprehensive, and ecological approach to waste management.
Attendees also explored ways to integrate circular economy principles
into the Metro Manila waste management landscape. Discussions ranged from
promoting public-private partnerships to implementing advanced recycling
technologies. The summit also emphasized the importance of community
engagement, with IEC campaigns urging citizens to adopt sustainable waste
practices starting with the most important component: segregation.
Undersecretary Procopio G. Lipana, General Manager of MMDA, was adamant
about the initiative’s objectives, encouraging all stakeholders to come
together, saying “Let us now leave the linear economy principle, as far as
waste management is concerned. We have to close the loop. We have to practice
circular economy.”
Moving Forward Toward Zero Waste
By implementing a holistic approach that encompasses waste reduction,
recycling, and resource recovery, the MMDA aims to divert waste from landfills
and create a cleaner, healthier future for Metro Manila.
Intensive public awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the
communities and the general public about the importance of waste reduction and
proper waste disposal. MMDA will expand and improve recycling programs by
bridging the gap between and among communities, government agencies, and
private recycling companies and organizations. Meanwhile, the Authority will
continuously explore opportunities to develop waste-to-energy facilities to
convert waste into clean energy, and promote utilization of technologies to
divert compostable and recyclable wastes. With these strategies under the
road-to-zero waste program, community empowerment and public-private
partnerships will be further strengthened to implement sustainable localized
waste management solutions. The MMDA is looking to pilot activities through
initial collaborations in selected barangays, city markets, and malls with
custom-made zero waste management guide maps to be implemented by their Solid
Waste Management Office.
The MMDA invites all stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and government agencies, to participate in this transformative initiative. For more information about the MMDA Road to Zero Waste Program, visit the MMDA’s official website or follow the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) Facebook page.
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