In another milestone for environmental leadership and sustainable development, the City Government of Isabela under the leadership of Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman will host the EPR Environmental Summit and Investment Forum 2026 from August 18 to 20, bringing together local government units, national government agencies, development organizations, environmental experts, and private sector partners from across the region to strengthen solid waste management and promote investments in the circular economy.
The initiative is being undertaken in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB IX), the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and the European Union–Philippines Green Economy Partnership (EU-PH GEP), through the Global Gateway Initiative..
Anchored on the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and Republic Act No. 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, the summit seeks to equip LGUs and stakeholders with updated knowledge on emerging technologies, innovative approaches, and best practices in sustainable waste management while preparing them for the country’s transition toward a circular economy.
Throughout the three-day event, participants from LGUs, national agencies, the Regional Ecology Center, environmental practitioners, and other stakeholders across Region IX are expected to participate in high-level plenary sessions and panel discussions on the implementation of the EPR Act, technical breakout sessions on circular economy and sustainable waste management, and an Innovation Marketplace showcasing green technologies and waste-to-value solutions. The summit will also feature an Investment Forum, where LGUs, investors, and industry leaders will explore partnerships, present innovative environmental solutions, and identify investment opportunities that support sustainable development and a cleaner, more resilient future for Mindanao.
At the heart of the summit is the EPR Act, a landmark environmental law that shifts part of the responsibility for managing plastic waste from local governments to the companies that produce and sell plastic-packaged products. Under the EPR framework, obligated enterprises are required to recover and divert an equivalent volume of the plastic packaging they introduce into the market through recycling, reuse, and other recovery programs. By making producers accountable for the entire life cycle of their products, the law aims to significantly reduce plastic pollution while encouraging sustainable product design and resource recovery.
The summit also highlights the growing importance of the circular economy, an economic model that minimizes waste by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible through reduction, reuse, repair, recycling, and recovery. Rather than the traditional “take-make-dispose” system, a circular economy transforms waste into valuable resources, creating environmental, economic, and social benefits for communities.
Isabela City’s selection as host underscores its strategic role in advancing environmental governance across Mindanao. Situated at the very center of the Western Mindanao Development Corridor—designated by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as the Mariculture and Trade Cluster—the city serves as a vital anchor for regional growth. Supported by flagship initiatives like the Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters (MinDaNOW) Program, the sustainable management of marine and watershed resources powers growth across agriculture, tourism, fisheries, mariculture, manufacturing, and trade. Building on this momentum, the Environmental Summit and Investment Forum aims to mobilize public and private investments for circular economy initiatives, aligning local development priorities with broader regional and national frameworks.
For Isabela City, hosting the EPR Environmental Summit and Investment Forum 2026 is a significant recognition of its growing role as a regional center for governance, innovation, and environmental stewardship. It reinforces the City’s commitment to building a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future while positioning Isabela City as a leader in advancing sustainable development not only in Basilan but across Western Mindanao.
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