The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views or
policies of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of
Directors, or the governments they represent. ADBI does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in
this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of their use. Terminology used may not
necessarily be consistent with ADB official terms.

Country Report
on
REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON ECO-INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS
(2-4December 2013)
By
Engr. Carlos J. Magno
(EMB-CALABARZON)
The Philippines is composed of fourteen (14) administrative regions, namely;
Region1( Ilocos Region ),Region2(Cagayan Valley), Region3 (Central Luzon),Region
4A(CALABARZON), Region4B(MIMAROPA), Region5(Bicol Region),Region 6(Western
Visayas), Region7(Northern Visayas),Region 8(Eastern Visayas), Region 9(Zamboanga
Peninsula),Region10(NorthernMindanao),Region11(Davao),Region12(Soccsksargen),R
egion 13(CARAGA), and Region 14(Autonomous Region in Mindanao).
In the CALABARZON Region, there are forty (40) industrial economic zones inside
and outside PEZA locations and jurisdiction. At present, the following undertakings are
being initiated and implemented in CALABARZON region;
1. Eco-industrial measures and practices that have been or plan to be implemented
in the country( design standards and regulations to improve resource efficiency,
conservation of land, air, and water quality, investment priorities for ecorestructuring of industrial infrastructures, new eco-technology development,
improved financial institutions etc.
Design Standards, Practices, and Regulations to improve resource efficiency,
conservation of land, air, and water quality among industry locators within
eco-industrial parks
x

DENR Administrative Order No. 35 series of 1990-Revised Effluent

Regulations of 1990 revising and amending the Effluent Regulations of
1982.
DENR Administrative Order No.34 series of 1990-Revised Water Usage
and Classification Water Quality Criteria Amending Section Nos. 68 and
69, Chapter III of the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations.
DENR Administrative Order No.2003-30 All DENR-EMB are enjoined to
cluster, merge integrate Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) based on
sectoral or spatial consideration.
Environmental Management System(EMS)- Simply put, an EMS follows a
process of continual improvement involving an environmental policy,

x
x

planning, and implementation, checking and corrective action and

management review.
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (R.A. 8749)-This covers the formulation
of a comprehensive national program of air pollution management that
shall be implemented by the government through proper delegation and
effective coordination of functions and activities through the application of
market-based instruments with emphasis on pollution prevention than
control
Philippine Clean Water Act R.A.9742-This covers the establishment of
Industrial wastewater treatment facilities and sewage collection integrated
with treatment facilities and the adoption of water pollution control
technology, cleaner production and waste minimization
Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System( P.D. 1586)-This
covers the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate, ECC
certifying that based on the representations of the proponent, the
proposed project or undertaking will not cause significant negative
environmental impact and that the proponent has complied with all the
requirements of the system and committed to implement the approved
Environmental management plan in all phases of the project life
Ecological Solid waste management of 2000 (R.A. 9003)-This covers the
establishment of waste recycling facilities by the LGUs
Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act (R.A. 6969This covers the control, and management of import, manufacture,
process, distribution, use, transport, treatment, and disposal of toxic
substances, and hazardous and nuclear wastes in the country.
Climate Change Act of 2009) R.A.6969- was ratified that aims to
mainstream CC adaptation and mitigation into policies and programs at
local and national level and the creation of the Climate Change
Commission.
Ecowatch program-The program aims to promote mandatory selfmonitoring and compliance among industries by encouraging pollution
reduction beyond compliance through public recognition and praise, and
creating incentives for industrial compliance to environmental laws.
Adopt a Estero Program- This program sought to be a direct response to
the continuing mandamus by the Supreme Court for agencies led by the
DENR to clean up Manila Bay, particularly through the estero and
waterways that empty into it.
Pollution Prevention/Cleaner Production-The P2/CP program helps a
company identify waste and more importantly, their origin and causes and
the potential solutions for reducing them. Incorporated into the overall
business operation and management system of the company, a P2/CP

program realizes improved environmental and economic performance with

the support of both management and staff.
x

PEPP-is a DENR partnership program with industries, in cooperation with

the other environment-related agencies, aimed to support industry selfregulation towards improved environmental performance.

Manila Bay Mandamus- ordering government agencies to clean up,

rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its
waters to SB level to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and
other forms of contact recreation

Investment priorities for eco restructuring of industrial infrastructure:

x

Energy Investments Opportunities - As an archipelago with abundant

resources of geothermal, wind, solar, and hydropower, the Philippines
presents significant dividends in investments in power generation and
energy supply. In line with the governments thrust to shift to new and
renewable energy (RE) sources investments in hydropower, solar, and
wind energy is now the governments priority.
Solid Waste Management Investments - The Solid Waste Management
Sector Projects will improve solid waste management (SWM) in the
Philippines by assisting local governments with investments in related
infrastructure complemented by capacity development technical
assistance. Urbanization and increasing concentration of people and
business activities has led to a dramatic increase in solid waste
production, while its proper treatment and safe disposal remains
problematic. Investments in SWM will help improve the quality of urban
environmental conditions, public health and competitiveness of cities and
tourism destinations. It will support the Government in achieving the
environmental targets of the Philippines Development Plan (PDP) 20112016. Despite the mandate of Republic Act (RA) 9003 (Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2001), the countrywide closure of open
dumpsites, with few exceptions, is outstanding. Currently there are less
than 30 sanitary landfills (SLF) available in the Philippines, and in many
urbanized areas garbage collection remains incomplete. The full
implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, especially
improved waste collection, the provision of sanitary landfills and the
closure of existing dumpsites, is required to solve the problem. Because of
the substantial investment required for properly engineered disposal
facilities (i.e. sanitary landfills), investment projects are encouraged to
promote partnerships among neighbouring LGUs to develop cluster

x
x
x

x
x
x

facilities (i.e. regional landfills), shared among various LGUs, thus

achieving economies of scale and supporting operations to become more
financially viable. Partnerships with the private sector will be encouraged
as a means to improve collection, treatment, and disposal of wastes
Water Supply, Sanitation and Rehabilitation Investments
Eco-Tourism Projects Investments
Recruitment of companies committed to high resource efficiency and low
pollution, including ones that support major industries in achieving these
goals through the services and products they offer.
Management that support the financial, environmental, and social success
of companies in eco industrial park
Strong linkage to surrounding communities through economic
development, social and environmental programs.
That would help to hedge against rapid increase in the countrys carbon
footprint, but would rather improve air quality

New eco-technology development:

x

x
x

Home-grown technology of zone

production via corona discharge to
destroy odour, oxidize pollutants in water and waste water, hospitals clean
air requirements etc.
Home-grown Mining Technology without use of water and tailings
generation as well as zero chemical application
Home- grown technology on wastes to energy using municipal wastes

Improved financial institutions etc.

x

DEVELOPMENT
BANK
OF THE PHILIPPINES
(DBP)
INTERNATIONAL BANK
FOR RECONSTRUCTION
AND
DEVELOPMENT
(IBRD)

x
x

PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL
BANK( PNB)
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT
BANK (ADB)
INTERNATIONAL
FINANCE
CORPORATION (IFC).

2. Some foreign and domestic investments in our country in the areas of industrial
clusters, eco-industrial parks, improving the eco-efficiency of small and medium
enterprises.
x

Semi Conductors and Electronics

Companies

x
x

Aircon Services
Food Processing

x
x
x
x
x

Formulation and Packaging Plant

Leather Goods Manufacturing
Tire Manufacturing Plant
Sanitary Landfill
Hospitals

x
x
x
x
x

Hatchery
Foot Wear
Batching Plants
Call Center
Fabrications

3. Challenges faced by local governments in integrating industrial development and

environmental conservation priorities at sub-regional level and the role being played by
knowledge institutes.

There are a host of challenges that face local governments in integrating

industrial development and environmental conservation: delivering services; lack
of finance; managing staff (lack of proper education and trainings); engaging
citizens (private sector, academe and the religious sector); forming partnerships
with industries; and, rapidly evolving technologies where personnel of local
governments need to cope up with.

Among the environmental issues that require immediate attention from local
governments now in most part of the Philippines aalthough the scale and
intensity of the problems vary, comprise of: poor air quality, traffic volumes and
congestion, high levels of ambient noise and scarcity of quiet areas as sport, play
and recreational areas, neglect of the built environment, high level of greenhouse
gas emissions, urban sprawl and generation of large volumes of solid waste and
waste water. These environmental challenges are serious and have significant
impacts on health, the environment and economic performance. These problems
are caused, in part, by changes in lifestyle and demography (growing
dependence on the private car, increase in member households, increasing
resource use per capita).

With these challenges local governments (LG) are facing, there is a need for LGs
to assess the status quo, sets targets for policy, assess available policy options,
engage with stakeholders, review their planning outputs and experiment with new
ideas that will allow mixed and flexible use of its assets and structures, respond
quickly to changing needs, and try out new approaches to integrating industrial
development vis a vis environmental conservation and service delivery. Solutions
need to be forward-looking and militate against future risks such as the impacts
of climate change (e.g. increased flooding) as well as contributing to national,
regional and global policies such as progressively reducing dependency on fossil
fuels.

However with the lack of knowledge and skills from the local governments in
environmental concerns, strategies offered to the challenges might as well be

impossible to achieve. It is in this area that the role of knowledge institutes

intervenes. Knowledge institutes had been very effective in bridging gaps in
capability building and ability enhancement.
4. Specific financing and capacity building activities required for implementing ecoindustrial strategies
At the institutional level:
x

x
x

To assist and simplify procedures for the provision of administrative services

related to issuance /provision of business registration and licences, permits and
other obligatory certificates
. To assist in the identification and creation of methodologies and tools to access
financing for a park
To assist in the design and implementation of mechanisms for assessing and
monitoring the impact and achievements of industrial parks, and remediation
plans for improvement.

At the capacity-building level:

x
x
x

Capacity-building for awareness rising of public and private sector stakeholders.

Capacity-building of industrial park managers and staff.
Capacity-building in market analysis for attracting new investments in industrial
parks.

Submitted by:
Engr. Carlos J. Magno
(Philippines)