The analytical phase of the project has almost come to a close and briefings are currently being held for the Government, the private sector and NGOs/press. So far, three background papers have been prepared, which deal with:

• the requirements for environmentally sound and economically viable management of secondary lead recovered from scrap lead-acid batteries in the Philippines;
• a review of the options for restructuring the secondary lead-acid battery industry in the Philippines, in particular the smaller battery recyclers and secondary lead smelters, including in the informal sector, with a view to enhancing their environmental performance and improving health standards; and
• an analysis of the most suitable environmentally sound technologies and management methods at company level for the biggest licensed battery recyclers in the Philippines.
  
  In April 1999, UNCTAD and UNDP, with technical support of ILMC, organized a joint briefing for government staff of various ministries in Manila on the preliminary results of the analytical work and the thrust and structure of the proposed multi-stakeholder advisory panel. The meeting endorsed the proposal on creating such panel and made recommendations on Government representation in its deliberations. It was recommended that the panel should be set up as policy forum under the auspices of the Development Academy of the Philippines. The present government representatives recommended that two further briefings should be held for NGOs/press and the private sector, in particular small and medium-sized battery recyclers. These briefings should familiarize the target audience with the objectives of the multi-stakeholder panel and the preliminary results of the analytical phase of the project. These briefings were held in mid-September 1999.
  
  The project is strongly focused on building institutional, managerial and technical capacity in improving sustainable natural resource management, including sound resource recovery both at macro- and micro-economic levels. Important technical expertise and assistance is provided in kind by ILMC, which is an information clearing house and technical assistance association of the world lead industry on reducing environmental and human exposure to lead.

UNCTAD and UNDP will soon start collaborating on implementing a project on the use of multi-stakeholder approaches and business partnerships in facilitating access to and effective use of environmentally friendly technologies. Within this framework, a series of background papers along the lines of the Philippine example is planned. UNCTAD is currently holding discussions with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Central Pollution Control Board and TIFAC on the thrust and level of detail of the envisaged studies. The Government has already formed an inter-departmental working group on sound collection and recycling of scrap batteries, which will provide further guidance on desirable analytical work and involvement of other stakeholders.

• Requirements for environmentally sound and economically viable management of natural resources in the light of the trade restrictions of the Basel Ban Amendment: The case of used lead-acid batteries in the Philippines (.pdf, 473 KB)

• A review of the options for restructuring the secondary lead-acid battery industry in the Philippines, in particular the smaller battery recyclers and secondary lead smelters, including in the informal sector, with a view to enhancing their environmental performance and improving health standards (.pdf, 135 KB)