Jan. 16, 2026 – In preparation for transition to circular economy, administrative/procurement officers from the city and national line agencies looked over the competencies and guidelines prepared through the Local Circular Economy Action Team (LCEAT) and presented by City Planning Development and Sustainability Coordinator Archt. Donna Rillera-Tabangin, Tuesday, Jan. 6 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center (BCCC).
City Budget Officer Atty. Letecia Clemente discussed the Green Procurement Law while General Services Office Supply Division Chief Atty. Cherrybeth Batuna shared about the existing practices on single-use plastics by government offices.
During the same event, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was cited by Benjamin Magalong for funding P43M for three Circular Economy Portfolios: the BIDA Barangay for communities, Breathe Baguio for tourism, and CE 101 for Education.
Archt. Tabangin emphasized on the urgent need to transition from a linear economy which strains resources, increases emissions and pollution; to a circular economy where materials are in use for as long as possible, reducing waste and pollution. Circular economy can be practiced by the Rs: recycle, recover, remanufacture, repurpose, repair, rethink, refuse, refurbish, reuse, reduce.
Reliable information shows the Philippines as the highest ocean plastic waste polluter, and has a growing economy which brought about increasing levels of pollution and greenhouse (GHG) emission.
In the waste analysis and characterization study (WACS) of the country’s municipal wastes, 52% are biodegradables while almost 28% are recyclables including 11% of plastics. In Baguio, 592.6 tons of waste per day is collected, of which 212.73 tons is biodegradable, 192.91 tons is residual, 182.61 tons is recyclable, and the remaining 4.35 tons is special waste. P200M was also pegged for the transport of the city’s garbage to a landfill, which could have been used for developmental projects, if garbage were lessened, it was known.
From the 593.28 tons of wastes per day in 2023, an increase of 598.42 tons is projected in the year 2032. However, with restorative measures including CE, a reduction of ten percent garbage per year as projected to a total of 80% decrease would result in 118.77 tons in 2032.
For now, the city hall grocery/canteen food hub is in the process of CE transitioning through committed eco-friendly practices and services: waste-reduction/sorting at source, phase-out of plastics, prioritizing reusables and refills, support to local producers/farmers, eco-friendly cleaning solutions, and use of own containers/utensil.
Several color-coded bins shall also be installed at city hall, green for organics, light blue for paper/cardboard, yellow-brown glass/metal aluminum, dark blue for residuals, red for plastics and violet for donation items.
Government offices/agencies through the supply and procurement officers were also issued guidelines for events and activities where resources should be protected through stringent measures in CE strategies; local food, raw materials, reusables and rentables prioritized; use of plastic décor such as ribbons, balloons and paper avoided; digital invitations favored, responsible consumption and waste is properly segregated, and disposed of.
A full information campaign with a target for zero plastics in 2040 shall be launched, as with a highly modernized Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), Tabangin said. There is also an ongoing campaign for foil sachets to be converted to durable school chairs, and other measures for recycling, reuse and repurpose before a material’s end of life.
Individual and communal efforts count for proper waste management, and assistance from everyone redounds to the common good, Tabangin added. Ideas from the academe are much appreciated, and young minds could work on solutions to eliminate residuals, she said.
With the elimination of plastic dependency, together with industries and city establishments, we move towards green LGUs for the next generation, with Baguio as one of the pilot areas. We use and reuse within circles as much as we can, the longer the life cycle of a material or services, waste is lessened, Tabangin further said.
The strategic role of supply officers with government operations was underscored, as Tabangin announced that institutions practicing circularity within a timeline of five years shall be given green star awards.
Participating administrative/procurement/supply officers are, among others, those from the Local Government Unit of Baguio, City Planning Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO), Department of Education (Dep-Ed), Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), Health Services Office (HSO), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), City Administrator’s Office (CadmO), City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO), General Service Office (GSO), City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO); Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Agrarian Reform, (DAR) and from the Baguio Central University (BCU). **jgfianza
