Healthcare Waste Project Activities Held in Davao City

For the second leg of its awareness-raising and capacity-building initiatives in Mindanao, the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project (HCWM Project) team conducted a series of activities in Davao City from June 15 to 18, 2026.

The four-day engagement commenced with a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) workshop on June 15. Attended by representatives from the project’s six partner hospitals nationwide, the workshop focused on strengthening the efficiency of M&E systems and consolidating lessons learned throughout project implementation. Facilitated by BAN Toxics’ M&E Consultant, Edel Garingan, the activity also aimed to guide partner hospitals in ensuring the effective achievement of project outcomes and intended impacts through evidence-based and participatory approach.

The project aims to strengthen healthcare waste management systems in the country, with a particular focus on reducing the release and emission of toxic substances. It is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in partnership with the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB), with BAN Toxics serving as the executing entity. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The project’s partner hospitals include Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City, Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) in Quezon City, Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City, CARAGA Regional Hospital (CRH) in Surigao City, Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro City, and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.

The following day, Nurse Susie, the project’s official mascot, was introduced to hospital personnel, patients, and caregivers at SPMC as part of the project’s awareness-raising activities. Nurse Susie serves as the face of the Toxics-Free Hospitals Campaign, an advocacy initiative that promotes proper waste segregation, reduced reliance on single-use plastics, and the adoption of reusable alternatives.

A two-day capacity-building training for SPMC was subsequently conducted from June 17 to 18. The training brought together 48 hospital staff and provided them with a refresher on national healthcare waste management standards, as well as tools for strategic hospital planning aligned with the project’s objectives. Serving as resource persons were Engr. Kristine Jardolin and Engr. Samantha Valdez of the DENR-EMB Central Office, Engr. June Philip Ruiz and Clement Vanrich Monreal of the Department of Health-Health Facility Development Bureau (DOH-HFDB), and Engr. Nove Balbuena of DENR-EMB Region 11.

Finally, on June 18, Nurse Susie also visited Barangay Buhangin in Davao City near SPMC as part of the project’s community awareness-raising activities. The visit engaged about 100 community members who took part in discussions on proper healthcare waste management and toxics-free practices.



The HCWM Project will proceed with its next leg of activities with NMMC from June 30 to July 2, 2026.