As a Party to the Stockholm Convention on POPs, the Philippines is obliged to comply with the targets designed to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional and unintentional production of POPs. The Government of the Philippines, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), development a National Implementation Plan (NIP) in 2006, which outlined programs and actions to achieve its obligations.
The project is fully consistent with the priorities reflected in the NIP as it includes two components specifically addressed at measurably reducing POPs from electrical equipment (PCBs) and e-waste (POP PBDEs), provision of decision making tools and economic approaches on these issues and a component aimed at raising the awareness of operators, authorities and of the general public on POPs issue.
The project grant will support segregation of PBDE-contaminated plastic from the general e-waste stream, and its disposal. The project will also assess possible technologies that may be adopted to address PBDE management. The project will also subsidize the disposal of PCBs from rural cooperatives and to further enhance the suitability of the existing facility to treat all PCB-contaminated materials including solids and metallic parts. Transformer replacement program will be financed through a loan package from DBP.
Overall, the project is expected to achieve effective management of POPs-PBDE from WEEE, and PCB wastes and PCB-contaminated equipment, assisting the Philippines to meet its obligation to the Stockholm Convention.