The Philippines, according to the SEA Circular, is among the world’s worst offenders in marine plastic pollution, with 0.28 to 0.75 million tons of plastic entering the oceans and coastal areas, including Manila Bay, each year.
To address this issue, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spearheaded 53 R&D initiatives to advance the circular economy, presenting its strategic framework during the launch of the DOST Circular Economy Initiatives towards Smart and Sustainable Communities, held on November 28, 2024, at Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
The DOST’s Science, Technology, and Innovation for Circular Economy (STI4CE) initiative is a strategic framework designed to integrate science, technology, and innovation into the transition toward a circular, green, and sustainable economy.
In a special press conference, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. was asked about the challenges in advancing the circular economy in the country. Solidum enumerated four challenges: First is the need to raise awareness about the importance of the circular economy and to integrate its practices into educational planning. Second is the challenge of making production greener and more sustainable, which involves reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency. Achieving sustainable production, however, requires commercializing eco-friendly solutions by partnering with major industries. Lastly, there is the need to sustain the capacity to implement green practices through policymaking that emphasizes incentives rather than penalties.
“It would be better if we have policies and laws that promote a circular economy—not focusing on penalizing organizations but more on incentives and influencing behavior. Penalties don’t induce participation,” affirmed Secretary Solidum.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jose Manuel F. Alba, District Representative of Bukidnon, expressed the members’ active support for DOST’s initiatives. He shared that Congress is working on proposing a bill to promote a circular economy, building on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law. This environmental policy approach requires producers to be environmentally responsible throughout a product’s life cycle.
Additionally, Solidum emphasized that the best way to engage the government is through co-designing and co-implementing projects, particularly during the ideation stage, with the goal of influencing key players such as private organizations.
Ultimately, DOST aims to provide cutting-edge solutions and open opportunities that drive a resilient and sustainable future.
The STI4CE launch was part of the 2024 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in Cagayan de Oro which highlighted various green solutions to push economic progress while maintaining sustainability. (By Kesha Shua V. Leosala, DOST-STII)#
