In a three-day engagement timed with Earth Day, government, community, and industry partners converged in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, to chart a path toward regenerative growth for the CARAGA region.
From April 21 to 24, 2026, the municipality of Del Carmen on Siargao Island hosted one of its first multistakeholder circular economy initiatives. Organized by Upgrade Innolab Inc. and funded by the European Union under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership, Circulab: Accelerating Circular Innovation from the Ground Up brought together local government leaders, regional directors, and community stakeholders for one of the first attempts to chart the region’s potential for circular economy initiatives.
Why the circular economy matters for Siargao
Siargao is world-famous for its surf breaks, mangroves, and biodiversity. But its success as a tourism destination has come at an environmental cost. Research by the Asian Development Bank found that the surge in tourist arrivals is directly responsible for a sharp rise in the island’s waste generation, with each visitor producing roughly 0.3 kilograms of solid waste per day across a typical seven-day stay.
For island communities like Siargao, turning to the circular economy is a necessary step for a local economy dependent on tourism. Del Carmen has already begun proving this is possible. The municipality saw a 25% reduction in unmanaged waste over recent years, and its ecotourism model, anchored in its mangrove forests, has helped lift average family income and reduce poverty incidence from 69% in 2010 to 21% by 2024.
With efforts to put circular economy efforts in the mainstream, Upgrade Innolab, through the European Union under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership, together with the municipality of Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, Philippines, and DOST Caraga, organized the first circular economy mapping initiative in the region.
Aligning with local government
The mission opened on April 21 with a courtesy call to the Office of Mayor Alfredo “JR” M. Coro II. In a wide-ranging discussion, Mayor Coro described Siargao’s natural wealth as “lush and abundant” but currently under-utilized, and stressed that youth empowerment and community-led governance were central to his administration’s approach to development. The meeting set the tone for a partnership grounded not in top-down intervention, but in local ownership.
Day 1: Mapping the ecosystem
The main event launched on April 22, coincidentally, Earth Day, at a designated venue in Del Carmen. Opening messages were delivered by Atty. Charmaine P. Valentin (Chairperson, Upgrade Innolab Inc.), Mayor Coro, and Engr. Noel M. Ajoc (Regional Director, DOST Caraga).
DOST’s role is to enable local ecosystems through science, technology, and innovation, particularly in advancing circular economy solutions that are aligned with national priorities
– Engr. Noel M. Ajoc, Regional Director, DOST Caraga, as reported by the Philippine Information Agency
Ms. Mary Antonette Flores of Expertise France then delivered an intensive orientation on the green and circular economy. The afternoon was led by Richard R. Day, president of Upgrade Innolab Inc., who facilitated the core ecosystem mapping activity, guiding participants from across Region 13 through a structured process to trace how resources move, where they leak, and where circular opportunities exist.
The day concluded with a networking night at Nomads Cafe and Workspace, providing a platform for business pitching and cross-sector connections among participants.
Day 2: From commitment to action
April 23 marked the transition from planning to formal accountability. Christian Jake A. Geonzon, the Region 13 Project Coordinator, presented the Circulab program’s opportunities, while Engr. Emman Lliam L. Prisco provided a deep dive into supporting DOST programs.
The day’s centerpiece was the official Memorandum of Understanding signing between Upgrade Innolab and the LGU of Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, formalizing a long-term partnership for circular economy development in the region. The team also conducted site visits to municipal facilities already practicing sustainability, such as the municipality’s material recovery facility.
What the mapping revealed
The ecosystem mapping surfaced both promising foundations and persistent challenges across Region 13.
The region already practices all three core resource strategies: resource efficiency (solar-powered cold storage, resort waste audits), resource circularity (Material Recovery Facility programs, fabric and plastic upcycling), and resource substitution (refilling stations replacing single-use plastics, waste-to-fuel technologies). The ecosystem is notably inclusive, integrating Indigenous Peoples, women-led enterprises, youth groups, and informal waste pickers across all lifecycle stages.
However, significant leakage points remain. Agricultural and forestry byproducts are frequently burned or left to rot. Fishery waste is often discharged directly into the sea. Post-consumer waste, such as used cooking oil and plastics, still flows to general dump sites or down drains.
The gap between what exists and what is possible represents the core opportunity that circular economy efforts can unlock.
Building on a track record of circular innovation
This engagement in Siargao is part of a broader, proven body of work. With numerous efforts, such as Circulab supporting circular economy ventures across Mindanao in recent years. There is real support for founders who convert bio-waste into soil conditioner, launch barangay-level composting services, and build circular supply chains using informal waste networks.
Funded by a P3.67 billion (€60 million) grant from the European Union in the Philippines, the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership is a priority programme under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and is led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It aims to link European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to accelerate the country’s transition to a greener economy while sustaining economic growth.
This initiative is done under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership: Green Business, Infrastructure, and Finance implemented by Expertise France, co-led by the DTI Philippines, and co-implemented with the GGGI Philippines.
Related reading
Greening Mindanao: Upgrade Innolab’s Role in Advancing the Circular Economy through Social Enterpriseupgradeinnolab.com
