The Marcos administration has secured a €60 million grant from the European Commission under the Green Economy Programme for the Philippines, covering circular economy, waste and plastic reduction, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation—one of the major international environmental partnerships secured under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones raised the program anew in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on August 15, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series featuring the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), citing it as a key example of the administration’s success in tapping international partners for environmental governance.
“Mayroon po siyang nilagdaan ngayon na napakalaking suporta galing po sa EU. Ito po ‘yung tinatawag nating Green Economy Program, 60 million specifically to address our solid waste management,” Leones said.
President Marcos announced the agreement following his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in July 2023, describing it as one of the productive outcomes of the engagement.
“We committed to conclude an agreement for the Green Economy Program in the Philippines, a grant worth 60 million euros, which aims to support the Philippines in areas such as circular economy, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation,” Marcos said.
Leones said the grant comes at a critical time because many local government units, particularly lower-income municipalities, lack the financial resources and technical expertise to implement solid waste management properly even when they already have approved plans in place.
He said the EU partnership reflects the Marcos administration’s approach of mobilizing international partners to supplement the national budget in addressing environmental challenges that require resources and technology beyond what government alone can provide.
The Philippines has also secured a separate $100 million grant from the UAE, led by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, specifically for the cleanup of Pasig River and Manila Bay, further demonstrating the scale of international environmental support the administration has mobilized.
