MANILA – The 1st Japan-Philippines Environmental Dialogue was held on October 27, 2015 in Pasay City, Metro Manila. The dialogue was attended by State Minister of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, Shinji Inoue, Assistant Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna and Executive Director of National Solid Waste Management Commission, Eligio T. Ildefonso. The Dialogue was held based on the “Action Plan for Strengthening of the Strategic Partnership” as part of the Joint Declaration for Strengthened Strategic Partnership which was signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during President Aquino’s state visit to Japan on June 2015. In the Action Plan, both leaders agreed to promote sharing of each country’s knowledge and experiences in the field of environment such as waste management.
During the dialogue, policies and issues on Waste Management in the Philippines including Waste to Energy was explained by the Philippine side as well as the policies and experiences on Waste Management in Japan by the Japanese side. After presentations, both representatives discussed the issues in the Philippines and agreed to continue the discussion by holding a Workshop to discuss detailed solutions for the issues in the Philippines.
During the afternoon session, the Workshop on Waste to Energy Guideline was held. In this workshop, experts and officials from both governments including LGUs exchanged ideas regarding the guideline. (Eagle News Service/Embassy of Japan)
Related Link: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Japan-Philippines Summit Meeting (June 4, 2015) http://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/ sea2/ph/page3e_000346.html