ESC has been appointed by the World Bank to deliver Technical Assistance for the Clean Philippines / Clean Metro Manila Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (MPA). This appointment reinforces ESC’s growing presence in the Philippines and its position as a trusted waste and circular economy advisory partner across Southeast Asia.
The programme responds to a well-documented challenge: Metro Manila generates an estimated 11.4 million tonnes of waste annually, with approximately 3.37 million tonnes ultimately disposed of in landfills. The Philippines is also among the countries with the highest rates of mismanaged plastic waste globally, contributing significantly to ocean plastic pollution in the region. Solid waste management in the country accounts for 16.7% of national methane emissions, making improved waste systems a critical lever for climate action.
Under this appointment, ESC will lead the first phase of the programme, which focuses on Metro Manila’s material recovery systems, circular economy infrastructure, and landfill rehabilitation. The scope of work includes a rapid assessment of waste generation, collection, transport, and disposal across target Barangays; upstream analysis and siting recommendations for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), transfer stations, and circular economy facilities; pre-feasibility studies for MRF and dumpsite closure options — including the rehabilitation of the Valenzuela dumpsite; a preliminary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and mitigation planning; business model and private sector engagement options for long-term operational sustainability; and the development of two Terms of Reference for full feasibility studies.
The programme also addresses the policy and institutional landscape, analysing barriers to inter-jurisdictional collaboration, fiscal and economic incentives, and options for transitioning Metro Manila from mixed waste management toward source-segregated systems at the Barangay level — integrated with city-wide LGU infrastructure.
This win builds on ESC’s established track record in waste management and international development aid across the region, including solid waste and circular economy projects in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where the firm has supported multilateral development banks and governments in delivering practical, on-the-ground environmental solutions.
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