While waste management is often treated as a technical challenge, this study argues that sustainable environmental governance is fundamentally rooted in humanity’s ethical and theological frameworks. This research conducts a comparative qualitative analysis of the waste management systems in Japan and the Philippines, focusing on the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003). By utilizing an eco-theological lens, the paper investigates how concepts such as stewardship, integral ecology, and the Japanese virtue of Mottainai (waste-awareness) serve as forms of "human intelligence" that drive or hinder policy success. Through a systematic review of legislative and theological literature, the study examines the gap between legislative intent and social implementation. Findings suggest that while the Philippines possesses a robust "green" legal framework in RA 9003, its effectiveness is often limited by a lack of localized ethical grounding and functional integrity. Conversely, Japan’s success in maintaining a "Sound Material-Cycle Society"—despite the ethical tensions of waste-to-energy incineration—demonstrates how ingrained cultural values drive effective waste management, although the reliance on incineration and land reclamation presents new ecological challenges. This research contributes to the sustainability discourse by asserting that long-term environmental health is dependent on an eco-theological shift in human values. It concludes by proposing an ethical roadmap that integrates statutory provisions with spiritual and communal stewardship to achieve true ecological conversion.

Authors:
Sanita Quilatan, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Sanita Quilatan is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Religion of the University of Santo Tomas and a Research Associate on Sustainability Studies at the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

Bookmark