The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) joined the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other partner agencies in advancing the country’s transition toward a circular economy during the High-Level Interagency Roundtable on the National Circular Economy Framework (NCEF) held recently in Metro Manila.
Representing the DILG, Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening local governance and improving basic service delivery through sustainable and environmentally responsive policies at the local level.
In her statement of commitment, De Leon said the DILG would maximize local mandates, performance systems, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that circular economy principles are integrated into local governance, particularly in waste management and resource efficiency programs across local government units (LGUs).
The roundtable brought together key government officials, including DENR Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary and Director General Jose Francisco B. Benitez, along with representatives from various agencies.
The initiative is part of the DENR-led program supported by the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative.
The DILG also reiterated its support for stronger interagency collaboration to help translate national environmental policies into concrete and sustainable action at the community level, recognizing LGUs as key drivers in building cleaner, smarter, and more resilient communities.
