The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) launched inception workshops to accelerate national efforts to fully phase out ozone-depleting substances by 2030. 

Organized by the agency’s Philippine Ozone Desk (POD) and in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the two-day workshop, started on Tuesday, marked the final phase of the country’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol in eliminating Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). 

"The Philippines enters the most critical phase of its HCFC journey. The reduction targets become increasingly ambitious because of remaining HCFC consumption," POD National Ozone Unit Program Manager Engr. Nolan Francisco said in the workshop.

This means that future progress will depend less on manufacturing conversions and more on servicing practices", the DENR-EMB official added.

According to the DENR, the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan Stage III (HPMP Stage III) has been approved under the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, providing the country with a technical and regulatory roadmap for the transition to low-global warming potential (GWP) alternatives. 

“[The HPMP3] focused heavily on enhancing the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) servicing sector and delivering targeted technical assistance to the solvent and firefighting industries,” the agency noted in a statement. 

With the theme "Advancing Sustainable Cooling," the inception workshop marked the final-stage activities, including the establishment of the implementation framework that formally launches HPMP Stage 3 and the preparation of the ozone-depleting substances (ODS) waste management project. 

Meanwhile, during the afternoon workshop, the agency stressed that the Philippines is on track with its obligation to the Montreal Protocol with preparation for the complete HCFC phase-out by January 1, 2030.