Singapore, 8 July 2026 – The Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP) convened the Government Consultation for the Development of the Regional Guidebook on Financial Mechanisms for Investments in Plastic Waste Management (PWM) in Singapore. 

Building on the outcomes of the First and Second Technical Consultation held in December 2025 and June 2026, the Consultation brought together representatives from ASEAN Member States (AMS), the ASEAN Secretariat, and observer participants from the World Bank to review, validate, and seek further inputs to the updated Regional Guidebook and accompanying communication products.  

The Consultation commenced with welcome remarks delivered by Atty. Felix S. Alicer, Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines, in his capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME) and Co-Chair of the SEA-MaP Project Steering Committee (PSC). The remarks recognised that AMS differ in policy environments, institutional capacities, economic context, and development priorities for PWM. To this end, the Guidebook seeks to serve as a valuable decision-making tool and offers guidance that ASEAN Member States can implement in a flexible manner, supporting governments in identifying, strengthening, and evaluating the appropriate financial mechanisms to apply in their respective national circumstances whilst contributing to a shared regional objective. The message further emphasised that investing in improved PWM systems also contributes to the region’s long-term sustainability and resiliency towards a circular economy. 

Developed under SEA-MaP to support the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan (RAP) for Combating Marine Debris, particularly Action 1, the Regional Guidebook aims to support AMS in promoting investments in sustainable plastic waste management through effective financial mechanisms and instruments. These include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Deposit Refund Schemes (DRS), and waste collection, among others. 

During the Consultation, participants reviewed how feedback from the Second Technical Consultation had been incorporated into the updated Guidebook. Through presentations, roundtable discussions, and group exercises, participants examined the Guidebook’s practical applicability, relevance of the financial mechanisms offered in the Guidebook, and opportunities to strengthen its usability across different ASEAN contexts. Feedback received will inform the further refinement of the Regional Guidebook and communication products.  

The Consultation also represents another important milestone in SEA-MaP’s continuing efforts to support the development of practical regional knowledge products that aim to strengthen sustainable plastic waste management across ASEAN. 

The Consultation was conducted in hybrid mode and organized by the SEA-MaP Regional project, facilitated by KPMG Singapore who are contracted to support development of the Guidebook, in close coordination with the Regional Implementation Support Unit (RISU) and the Project Management Unit (PMU) of SEA-MaP. 

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