Skip to main content

UP CIDS Political Economy Program to Host Roundtable Discussion on Advancing Urban Mining in Philippine Cities

As urban centers face mounting waste volumes and critical resource scarcities, shifting from a linear “take-make-dispose” mindset to a circular economy is more urgent than ever. To address this challenge, the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Political Economy Program (PEP), co-sponsored by the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DMMME) of UP Diliman College of Engineering, is convening a vital multidisciplinary dialogue to explore how Philippine cities can transform trash into strategic economic resources.

The upcoming roundtable discussion (RTD), titled “Harnessing Urban Mining in Philippine Cities: Success Factors, Structural Constraints, and Strategic Pathways,” will take place on June 29, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the DMMME Auditorium, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.

Why Urban Mining?

Rather than treating discarded materials merely as a disposal burden, Urban Mining treats urban waste streams—such as electronics, plastics, metals, organic matter, and construction debris—as valuable repositories of secondary resources. Successfully scaling urban mining can:

    • Drastically reduce reliance on rapidly filling landfills.
    • Enhance domestic resource efficiency and industrial resilience.
    • Generate green livelihoods and support local micro-enterprises.

Using Quezon City as a primary case study—given its established frameworks under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)—the RTD serves as a platform to share recent research findings and gather multi-sectoral insights to shape an upcoming national policy brief.

Event Program & Speakers

The afternoon will feature presentations of cutting-edge urban mining research alongside critical reflections from key regulatory, local government, industry, and civil society actors:

    • Welcoming Remarks: Dr. Antoinette Raquiza (Convenor, Political Economy Program, UP CIDS)
    • Research Presentations: Dr. Julius Rhoan T. Lustro (Project Leader & Co-Convenor, PEP-UP CIDS; ) 
    • Stakeholder Reactions & Panelists:
      • National Government: Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)
      • Local Government: Representatives from DSQC, Payatas MRF, and QC PESO
      • Industry Leaders: Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST), Sentinel Upcycling Technologies, and the Philippine Plastic Industry Association, Inc. 
      • Civil Society: EcoWaste Coalition
      • Academe: Faculty, DMMME
    • Closing Remarks: Dr. Maria Antonia N. Tanchuling (Dean, UPD College of Engineering) 

How to Participate

This onsite event invites academic researchers, environmental advocates, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to collaborate on resource recovery solutions.

    • Date & Time: June 29, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 
    • Venue: DMMME Auditorium, Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, UP Diliman, Quezon City 
    • Registration Link: Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/UrbanMining0629 

For direct inquiries, please reach out to Mr. Hans Tabiola at 09123231125 or via email at [email protected]