Strengthening Iligan City’s Fight Against Plastic Pollution: AIT RRC.AP and ERIA RKC-MPD Partners Iligan City to Tackle Marine Plastic Pollution under the CaRMPAC Project
The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) and the City of Iligan, successfully conducted a Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage on March 11-12, 2025, in Iligan City, Philippines. The workshop, held under the CaRMPAC Project, brought together over 90 key stakeholders to strengthen local and industry-led strategies for plastic waste management.?
Participants to the workshop include junk shop owners, recyclers, barangay officials, educators, and enforcement agencies (Task Force (TF) Bantay Dagat, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Police). Also present were representatives from the City Environment Management Office (CEMO), CDRRMO, City SWM Board, local government unit (LGU) Executive Offices, industries, small businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, and Holcim Cement who are key stakeholders in Iligan’s plastic waste management system.
Hon. Frederick W. Siao, Mayor of Iligan City, welcomed and thanked AIT RRC.AP and ERIA-RKC-MPD for their support in addressing marine plastic pollution, emphasizing its impact on the economy, communities, and public health. Graced by Honorable Frederick W. Siao, Mayor of Iligan City, the workshop highlighted the urgent need for collective and intensified action to tackle marine plastic pollution. He further urged participants to actively engage, share real interventions, and contribute to the development of the City Plan of Action on Marine Litter Prevention (CPOA-ML).
“So, as we leave this workshop, let us move forward with a shared commitment—to reduce plastic waste, to operate responsibly, and to protect our environment for future generations. Together, we can make Iligan a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable city”
Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, opened the workshop, thanking Honorable Mayor Frederick W. Siao, Ms. Armien P. Alorro, Head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) and Mr. Karl Sam Maquiling of CEMO for their support. He emphasized the urgency of marine plastic pollution, noting that while mechanical recycling reintegrates plastic waste, improper practices can lead to plastic leakage. The CaRMPAC equips recyclers and LGU officers with the best practices, technical guidelines, and policy interventions to strengthen plastic waste management.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Reo Kawamura, Director of the Regional Knowledge Center for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), reaffirmed the Center's commitment to tackling marine plastic pollution by delivering tailored interventions that align with the unique contexts of cities in the region.
Day 1: Strengthening LGU & Community-Led Plastic Pollution Prevention from Recycling
Local government officers, including representatives from the City Environment Management Office, regulatory bodies, academia, and ?the Association of Barangay Councils, explored plastic pollution sources, impacts, and prevention strategies.
Key activities:
- LGU-led strategies to align local policies with ASEAN and national commitments.
- Training on plastic pollution impacts, waste management, and policy enforcement to prevent marine litter.
- Simulated role-playing exercises and collaborative discussions to develop practical inputs for the Iligan City's Action Plan to enhance waste management and reduce marine plastic pollution.
Day 2: Advancing Industry-Led Solutions
Day 2 focused on addressing plastic waste leakage from recycling activities, bringing together barangay representatives, businesses, NGOs, civil society organizations, recyclers, and environmental experts.
Key activities:
- Training for recyclers, junk shop owners, and Barangay MRF operators on best housekeeping practices and leakage prevention in recycling facilities.
- Hands-on business-led action planning to improve waste recovery operations.
Industry stakeholders draft voluntary commitments and action plans to enhance circular economy practices and reduce plastic waste.
Ms. Armien P. Alorro, on behalf of the Mayor of Iligan City, expressed gratitude to AIT RRC.AP, ERIA RKC-MPD, and stakeholders for their partnership in tackling plastic pollution. She emphasized the need to implement workshop learnings and reaffirmed the city's commitment to continuing collaboration, strengthening policies, and supporting CPOA-ML.
The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) and the City of Iligan, successfully conducted a Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage on March 11-12, 2025, in Iligan City, Philippines. The workshop, held under the CaRMPAC Project, brought together over 90 key stakeholders to strengthen local and industry-led strategies for plastic waste management.?
Participants to the workshop include junk shop owners, recyclers, barangay officials, educators, and enforcement agencies (Task Force (TF) Bantay Dagat, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Police). Also present were representatives from the City Environment Management Office (CEMO), CDRRMO, City SWM Board, local government unit (LGU) Executive Offices, industries, small businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, and Holcim Cement who are key stakeholders in Iligan’s plastic waste management system.
Hon. Frederick W. Siao, Mayor of Iligan City, welcomed and thanked AIT RRC.AP and ERIA-RKC-MPD for their support in addressing marine plastic pollution, emphasizing its impact on the economy, communities, and public health. Graced by Honorable Frederick W. Siao, Mayor of Iligan City, the workshop highlighted the urgent need for collective and intensified action to tackle marine plastic pollution. He further urged participants to actively engage, share real interventions, and contribute to the development of the City Plan of Action on Marine Litter Prevention (CPOA-ML).
“So, as we leave this workshop, let us move forward with a shared commitment—to reduce plastic waste, to operate responsibly, and to protect our environment for future generations. Together, we can make Iligan a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable city”
Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, opened the workshop, thanking Honorable Mayor Frederick W. Siao, Ms. Armien P. Alorro, Head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) and Mr. Karl Sam Maquiling of CEMO for their support. He emphasized the urgency of marine plastic pollution, noting that while mechanical recycling reintegrates plastic waste, improper practices can lead to plastic leakage. The CaRMPAC equips recyclers and LGU officers with the best practices, technical guidelines, and policy interventions to strengthen plastic waste management.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Reo Kawamura, Director of the Regional Knowledge Center for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), reaffirmed the Center's commitment to tackling marine plastic pollution by delivering tailored interventions that align with the unique contexts of cities in the region.
Day 1: Strengthening LGU & Community-Led Plastic Pollution Prevention from Recycling
Local government officers, including representatives from the City Environment Management Office, regulatory bodies, academia, and ?the Association of Barangay Councils, explored plastic pollution sources, impacts, and prevention strategies.
Key activities:
- LGU-led strategies to align local policies with ASEAN and national commitments.
- Training on plastic pollution impacts, waste management, and policy enforcement to prevent marine litter.
- Simulated role-playing exercises and collaborative discussions to develop practical inputs for the Iligan City's Action Plan to enhance waste management and reduce marine plastic pollution.
Day 2: Advancing Industry-Led Solutions
Day 2 focused on addressing plastic waste leakage from recycling activities, bringing together barangay representatives, businesses, NGOs, civil society organizations, recyclers, and environmental experts.
Key activities:
- Training for recyclers, junk shop owners, and Barangay MRF operators on best housekeeping practices and leakage prevention in recycling facilities.
- Hands-on business-led action planning to improve waste recovery operations.
Industry stakeholders draft voluntary commitments and action plans to enhance circular economy practices and reduce plastic waste.
Ms. Armien P. Alorro, on behalf of the Mayor of Iligan City, expressed gratitude to AIT RRC.AP, ERIA RKC-MPD, and stakeholders for their partnership in tackling plastic pollution. She emphasized the need to implement workshop learnings and reaffirmed the city's commitment to continuing collaboration, strengthening policies, and supporting CPOA-ML.
The kNOwWaste Knowledge Platform was developed through a Project Cooperation Agreement funding by UNEP on 2016. The platform provides data and information on holistic waste management to stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific region. The platform was developed with the following aims: generate and consolidate data or information on holistic waste management, transform data into easily comprehensible outputs for use by key stakeholders, map out and disseminate information on international waste management projects under the GPWM and UNEP projects as well as other international partners, and provide capacity building support through dissemination of data or information support for relevant stakeholders on holistic waste and waste management system.
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