Los Baños, Laguna –  In line with the conduct of the International Conference on Connecting the Dots on Circular Economy for Sustainable Development to be held on November 8-9, 2023 at the Bellevue Manila Hotel in Alabang, Metro Manila, the DENR through the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) unveils a remarkable line-up of experts for the said event.

The DENR Secretary Honorable Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to deliver the keynote speech during the event. This highlights the DENR’s more proactive stance to promote a circular economy in the country.

To further promote the concept of circular economy and understand the challenges of transitioning to a circular economy, the conference will provide a venue for participants from different countries to hold rigorous discourse regarding four (4) important themes: Circular Economy Towards a Sustainable Supply Chain, Circular Economy Implication on the Environment, Circular Economy Policies and Governance for Sustainable Development; and Innovation and Technology Advancements in Circular Economy.

The conference will highlight these thematic concerns through four (4) plenary sessions consisting of forty five (45) poster and paper presentations. More than one hundred delegates from India, South Korea, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Ethiopia and the Philippines are expected to participate in the event.

One of the plenary speakers is Ms. Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, the Executive Director of the Board of Investment (BOI) from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Her talk will highlight the Circular Economy Towards a Sustainable Supply Chain.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jelmer Hoogzaad, a Circular Economy Expert and Founder of Shifting Paradigms from the Netherlands will discuss various strategies and opportunities to further gear up the Circular Economy.  Under the same theme, the Secretary-General of the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST), Engr. Felix Jose M. Vitangcol will share best practices, and insights to shape the minds of the audience on circular economy.

A Senior Expert on Circular Economy, Dr. Rene Van Berkel from the European Union-SWITCH Asia, will highlight the latest innovations and technology advancements in circular economy.

To round up the list of panelists is Engr. Esperanza A. Sajul, Assistant Director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) under the DENR. EMB is set to tone the theme on policies and governance to sustainable development.

With this great roster of speakers to mark the conference, DENR envisions that the conference will provide a great avenue for exchanging information and experiences on circular economy and related research and development (R&D) studies, sharing of action plans to address problems, issues, and challenges on circular economy towards achieving sustainable development, research collaboration, partnership and linkage establishment.

ERDB is the primary research arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources located in Los Baños, Laguna. Its research, development, and extension activities are focused on the five (5) major ecosystems of the Philippines, which include forests, upland farms, grassland and degraded areas, coastal zone and freshwater, and urban areas.

Published: