MRFs, MSMEs in Pasig learn best practices to implement circular economy
Individuals employed in the Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Pasig City underwent a seven-day learning incursion that focused on innovation and the circular economy.

The weeklong "Innovation for Circular Economy (ICE) Hub Training" was conducted last Aug. 7 to 17, led by the Local Economic Development and Investment Office and City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
The training aimed to help the local government share knowledge and teach skills that would enable the future establishment of a permanent ICE Hub in the city, and the first ever Circular Economy Hub in the country.
The hub will become the "central aggregator, incubator, and connector" of the circular economy solutions of Pasig.
The participants were given the opportunity to explore the concept and importance of the Circular Economy at a deeper level, and learn the various ways that governments and societies can eliminate the problem of waste.

The local government said it hoped that the knowledge that was gained during the training would benefit the participants by providing concrete solutions and open doors for potential livelihoods for MRFs and MSMEs.
Participants were tasked to create and present business concepts or proposals that could possibly hit two birds with one stone – help ease the issue of garbage while creating jobs or generating revenue.
Majority of the training was conducted through plenary sessions with open forums, facilitated by resource speakers from the United Nations Development Program me (UNDP) - Philippines, and Deloitte Philippines.

Moreover, the participants were also able to visit and learn about recycling and upcycling processes from some manufacturing companies that implement Circular Economy concepts. These companies include Poly Al Pro, Sentinel Upcycle Manufacturing, Kreations Upcycle Furniture, and AMCen and Metal Industry and Development Center.
They also visited the MRFs in Manggahan, Bagong Ilog, Pineda and along Sandoval Avenue, to gain first-hand experience of their waste processing systems.
The Pasig government has previously voiced interest in implementing the Circular Economy in the city and has enacted policies to improve the city's waste management capacities and improve its multiple MRFs.
Last April 19, the local government received a new mobile MRF, furnished with its own biogas digester, from the Embassy of Japan, UNDP Philippines, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as part of Japan's "Accelerating Nationally Determined Contributions through Circular Economy in Cities" (ACE) program.