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EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership signs agreements with three cities to support circular economy PPPs

11.06.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to PHILIPPINES

METRO MANILA, Philippines, 3 June 2026. The European Union-Philippines Green Economy Partnership signed award letters with three local government units (LGUs) from Mindanao that will receive technical  and feasibility study funding support to establish inclusive circular economy public-private partnerships (PPPs) in their cities.

EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership signs agreements with three cities to support circular econ
© European Union-Philippines Green Economy Partnership, 2026

Iligan City, Island Garden City of Samal, and Zamboanga City participated in a competitive selection and will receive technical support to develop feasibility studies for circular PPPs and training on PPP management in the coming months. These pilot projects will address immediate local infrastructure and environmental needs, and establish gender, diversity and social inclusion (GEDSI) mechanisms to integrate informal waste workers. They will serve as replicable models for future green PPP initiatives across the Philippines. 

“Today’s signature represents an important milestone in the EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership and the EU Global Gateway investment agenda. The European Union supports inclusive circular economy public-private partnerships that will bring investments to the local communities and allow the private sector to address pressing issues of circularity and waste with LGUs”, stated EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro. 

The training and selection process was coordinated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPP Center), the central coordinating and monitoring agency for all public-private partnership projects in the Philippines. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served as observers to the process. 

“Circular public-private partnerships can drive the LGUs’ green transformation. Creating bridges between the public and private sectors allows local governments to access technical and financial support that will increase the sustainability and bankability of their circular projects. This is a great opportunity for building inclusive local green economies by tapping into European expertise, technology and investments,” said Toni Flores, Project Leader for the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership: Green Business, Infrastructure, and Finance.

Equally important is the programme’s contribution to strengthening institutional capacity within the PPP ecosystem, particularly through close collaboration with the PPP Center, and building long-term expertise for the development and implementation of sustainable infrastructure projects.

“Circular economy solutions begin with partnerships. Through PPPs, we can unlock the expertise, innovation, and investments needed to transform how our communities manage waste and recover resources,” said PPP Center Executive Director Undersecretary Rizza Blanco-Latorre.

She also added that the private sector plays a critical role in delivering sustainable solutions through public-private partnerships. “Beyond investment, public-private partnerships enable operational efficiency, innovation, technology transfer, and improved service delivery for communities. These collaborations demonstrate how government and industry can work together to create inclusive local green economies while supporting national development and climate objectives.”

About the Programme

The EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership is an EU-funded programme under its Global Gateway Strategy. It links European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to foster a circular economy and the reduction of plastic waste in support of the country’s green transition. While the DENR is the overall political lead in the Partnership, the DTI leads the component on green business development, implemented by Expertise France. 

Funded by a PHP 3.67 billion (EUR 60 million) grant from the European Union, the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership will run from 2023-2028 in collaboration with the government of the Philippines, led by the DENR. This priority programme of the European Union in the Philippines links European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to foster a circular economy and the reduction of plastic waste. It also aims to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through technology transfer and investments, the programme aims to accelerate the transition to a greener economy while sustaining economic growth that benefits all Filipinos.

The EU-PH Green Economy Partnership is part of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative - the European strategy engaging with partners globally and promoting investments around shared priorities such as the transition to a green economy and the advancement of digital infrastructure, among others.

This action is implemented under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership: “Green Business, Infrastructure and Finance” project implemented by Expertise France and co-implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute. The project is co-led by the DTI, in partnership with the PPP Center.