BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The ECOWAVE Project Team visited Panasiatic Call Center on Nov. 13 as part of its ongoing mission to strengthen advocacy on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and map the city’s e-waste value chain.
The visiting delegation included Dr. Katharina Raab and Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner of the University of Kassel; Ms. Heike Gundlich of the Hessian Ministry for Agriculture and Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting, and Homeland Affairs; and Ms. Gabriele Kohlisch of GIZ Germany. They were joined by GIZ Philippines advisers Mr. Mark Siatta and Ms. Maricel Jarencio.
Panasiatic executives Mary Agnes Capigon, HR Manager, together with Alaia Fideles Pilar, Mylene Villanueva, Carol Ann Historiador, Jefferson Alba, Sheena Rose Nangan, and Melissa Arceo, welcomed the delegation and discussed the company’s operations, technology use, and internal practices related to managing electronic equipment.
The visit forms part of the ECOWAVE Project’s larger effort to establish a data-driven, community-centered system for WEEE management in Bacolod. By engaging major employers and digital industry players, the project aims to understand how businesses acquire, utilize, store, and eventually dispose of electronic devices—critical information in strengthening the city’s circular economy initiatives.
Dr. Rodjhun B. Navarro, LCCB Vice President for Research, Innovation and Linkages and Project Director, highlighted the key role that companies like Panasiatic play in the WEEE value chain.
“Large IT-enabled companies are at the front end of the electronics lifecycle,” Navarro said. “Their procurement, maintenance, and disposal practices influence the flow of e-waste in the city. Engaging Panasiatic helps us build a clearer picture of the WEEE value chain and design solutions that are both industry-informed and environmentally responsible.”
Sr. Flolyn S. Catungal, OSA, LCCB President, expressed gratitude to Panasiatic for their openness and support.
“We thank Panasiatic for welcoming the ECOWAVE Team and for recognizing the importance of responsible e-waste management,” she said. “Partnerships like this strengthen our shared commitment to protect the environment and uplift communities, especially women in the informal waste sector.”
ECOWAVE is implemented by La Consolacion College Bacolod in partnership with the University of Kassel and funded by the Hessian Ministry through GIZ Germany. The project continues to hold sectoral meetings, site visits, and community engagements as it builds a sustainable WEEE management ecosystem for Bacolod City.