PH to host ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy on Sept. 22-23

The Philippines will host the ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy on September 22 to 23, 2026 as the region shifts away from single-use waste, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

The dialogue will explore state-level circular economy strategies, local governance roles, Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, and financial mechanisms that enable businesses and communities to transition.

"Long-term solutions must also address the problem at its source and strengthen measures that can discourage repeated abuse of natural resources," Acting Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna in a statement.

During the two-day regional meet, a session will center on supporting small businesses and informal waste sector workers so they are fully included as regional circular systems expand and formalize.

"For ordinary Filipinos and communities across ASEAN, the Dialogue points to something concrete: cleaner neighborhoods, new livelihoods built around recycling and resource recovery, and stronger safety nets for the informal waste workers who already do much of this work today," the DENR said.

"Because waste and pollution do not stop at borders, the region's response has to be shared, and the Dialogue is designed to turn that shared urgency into partnerships and investments member states can act on."

The event will culminate in an ASEAN Chair's Summary on Circular Economy Policy and Implementation, outlining key policy insights and priority action items, the DENR said.

These recommendations will directly inform the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum in October 2026, advancing regional progress as the Philippines prepares to host the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila this November.

The dialogue will be held at New World Hotel Makati. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News