Stakeholders Convene for In-Depth Discussion on Battery Recycling and Circularity in the Philippines
Held at Nascent’s research laboratory in Quezon City, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) brought together representatives from government, industry, academe, development partners, and the private sector to examine how the Philippines can prepare for the growing use of batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, including how these can be safely managed, reused, recycled, and recovered beyond their first life.
As the only Philippine-based company engaged in advanced battery research, testing, and technology development, Nascent provided a setting that connected policy discussions with local technical expertise and emerging industry capabilities.
With the continuous expansion of electric mobility, battery circularity is becoming an increasingly important part of ensuring that the transition to cleaner transport is sustainable, resource-efficient, and aligned with the country’s industrial development goals. The discussion created a space for stakeholders to better understand the current battery landscape in the Philippines, identify gaps in policy and practice, and explore opportunities to build local capacity for circular battery management.
For Clean Air Asia, the activity supports broader efforts to ensure that the shift to electric mobility contributes to cleaner air, lower emissions, and more sustainable urban transport systems. Clean Air Asia Deputy Executive Director Glynda Bathan-Baterina highlighted the need to plan early for the environmental and institutional systems that will support electric mobility beyond vehicle deployment.
“Electric mobility can deliver important benefits for air quality, climate, and public health. But to make this transition truly sustainable, we also need to look at what happens beyond the first use of batteries. This discussion helps us identify the policies, systems, and partnerships needed to support responsible battery management in the Philippines.”
UNIDO Country Representative Teddy Monroy underscored that sustainability must be embedded across the full life cycle of electric mobility technologies.
“As we support countries in their transition to electric mobility, we must ensure that this transition is not only low-carbon, but also resource-efficient and sustainable. We believe that battery circularity is an indispensably integral part of an e-mobility ecosystem that is consistent with the tenets of UNIDO’s mandate of accelerating inclusive and sustainable industrial development.”
Board of Investments Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa emphasized the potential of battery circularity to contribute to the country’s growing electric vehicle ecosystem and industrial value chain.
“If we are able to develop the right ecosystem and enabling conditions, battery circularity can open new areas for investment, support the development of related industries, and strengthen the Philippines’ position within the evolving EV value chain.”
The discussion enabled government, industry, academe, and technical experts to exchange perspectives on the current state of battery use and end-of-life management in the country. Participants discussed opportunities and gaps related to battery collection, testing and diagnostics, reuse, recycling, second-life applications, and materials recovery.
Dr. Joey Ocon, President and Chief Technology Officer of Nascent Technologies Corporation, emphasized the importance of strengthening local technical understanding and industry readiness around battery circularity.
“Battery circularity requires more than end-of-life management. It requires understanding the full battery value chain—from mining, processing, production, importation, use, diagnostics, and second-life applications to recycling and materials recovery. And, most importantly, the policies and market mechanisms needed to support it. This discussion along with initiatives like the Circular RE Futures of REI-Philippines, is an important step in identifying where the Philippines can build capability, strengthen standards, and participate in emerging circular economy opportunities.”
A lecture on battery recycling technologies and policies in developed economies such as the European Union was also provided for the FGD participants, delivered by France-based battery recycling expert Dr. Neil Hayagan of Ampere (Renault Group).
The activity also surfaced the need for clearer policy guidance, stronger institutional coordination, and greater industry participation to support a more circular battery ecosystem. These include potential pathways for managing electric vehicles and energy storage batteries, clarifying stakeholder roles, and identifying areas where local capacity can be strengthened.
Through this consultation, Clean Air Asia and its partners aim to support a cleaner and more sustainable e-mobility transition, one that considers not only vehicle deployment, but also the systems needed to manage batteries safely, responsibly, and circularly.
The activity was conducted under the Accelerating the Adoption and Scale-up of Electric Mobility for Low-Carbon City Development in the Philippines, or the e-mobility ASAP Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Board of Investments (BOI), and executed by Clean Air Asia with its consortium partners De La Salle University (DLSU), Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), and Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI).
