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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; Faculty, DMMME) 
    • Stakeholder Reactions & Panelists:
      • National Government: Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)
      • Local Government: Representatives from Quezon City’s CCESD, 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 and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Philippines 
    • 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]