GANDHINAGAR, INDIA — Ormoc City represented the Philippines as the sole local government unit (LGU) invited to present its municipal waste management model at the 2026 World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), held from September 15 to 18, 2026, at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Complex in Gandhinagar, Gujarat State, India.
Urban Governance Panel and Localized Model
Under the administration of Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, City Councillor Lalaine Marcos represented the LGU during the parallel panel session titled "Circularity in Urban Governance: Transforming Resource Systems":
Community-Led Initiatives: Marcos detailed Ormoc’s municipal policy framework, highlighting organized local women’s associations implementing circular economy projects alongside proposed social protection coverage for municipal waste workers.
Organic Waste Innovations: City OIC Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ingrid Macabare addressed international delegates regarding Ormoc’s operational Black Soldier Fly bioconversion facility, which processes organic waste into sustainable protein and bio-fertilizer.
International Reception: The presentation drew acclaim from international observers, with environmental policy experts noting Ormoc’s inclusion of informal waste sector protections and functional biological treatment systems.
Multi-Agency Partnerships and Strategic Growth
The presentation acknowledged key institutional partners supporting Ormoc’s circular economy transition through the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership:
Inter-Agency Support: Local programs are executed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Technical Expansion: Recent inter-agency expansions include technical partnerships with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Global Recognition: Local officials noted that participation in the international forum establishes Ormoc as a regional benchmark for proactive municipal waste diversion before urban waste volumes exceed local landfill capacity.
