Press Release
February 06, 2026
- Global Environment
Outcome of the Business Forum on JCM Project Participation and Matchmaking and the Promotion of Article 6 Implementation under the Paris Agreement in the Philippines
1.
On January 21, 2026, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Republic of the Philippines, held the Business Forum on JCM Project Participation and Matchmaking and the Promotion of Article 6 Implementation under the Paris Agreement in Manila, Republic of the Philippines.
2.
The Forum was organized as part of the commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. It aimed to promote private sector participation in carbon markets in the Philippines through Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) projects, as well as to facilitate matchmaking for JCM project development.
In addition, the Forum provided an opportunity for governments and private sector stakeholders from both countries to deepen mutual understanding and engage in practical discussions toward operationalizing cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
3.
During the business pitch session, eight companies from Japan and the Philippines with technologies and solutions relevant to the JCM presented project ideas and solutions, including:
- Emission reductions in the agricultural sector, particularly through Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation;
- The generation of credits supported by digital MRV systems
- Nature-based solutions such as Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) and REDD+;
- The deployment of renewable energy (solar and wind power) and distributed energy systems;
- Urban environmental improvement through Waste-to-Energy projects; and
- Transition-related project concepts, including those exploring early retirement of coal-fired power plants combined with renewable energy.
This was followed by business matchmaking sessions, where companies, government officials, and international organizations from both countries participated in individual consultations to exchange views on the potential development of JCM projects.
4.
On the following day, January 22, a closed consultation session was held at the headquarters of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the objective of further concretizing JCM projects. Government representatives from Japan and the Philippines, as well as Japanese companies implementing or considering JCM projects, participated in in-depth discussions on technical and institutional issues, as well as next steps toward project formulation under the JCM.
5.
MOE Japan will continue to promote and accelerate the utilization of the JCM and, through the formulation and implementation of tangible projects in the Philippines, contribute to the country’s decarbonization efforts and the steady implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Overview of the Business Forum on JCM Project Participation and Matchmaking and the Promotion of Article 6 Implementation under the Paris Agreement in the Philippines
• Date and Time:
January 21, 2026, 10:00–18:00 (local time)
January 21, 2026, 10:00–18:00 (local time)
• Venue:
Manila, Republic of the Philippines
• Format:
Hybrid (in-person and online)
• Organizers:
Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Republic of the Philippines
• Co-organizers / Supporting Organizations:
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) / Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership (A6IP) Center
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan (OECC)
JCM Implementation Agency (JCMA)
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
JICA Philippines Office
JETRO Manila Office
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)
• Participants:
Government officials and private sector representatives from Japan and the Philippines
Approximately 300 participants
(around 174 in person and 129 online)
• Language:
English
• Presentation Materials:
Agenda:
| Time | Program | Speakers and Presenters |
| 9:30- | Participant registration | |
| 10:00-10:20 | Pambansang Awit ng Pilipinas at ng Hapon | All |
| Opening remarks | Hon. Minister. OHNO Shou, Minister, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines |
|
| Opening remarks | Dir. Elenida “Elen” Basug, Officer-in-Charge, Director of Climate Change Service, DENR |
|
| Message of Cooperating Organization | Mr. IDE Soichiro, Senior Representative, JICA Philippines |
|
| Photo Session | ||
| 10:20-10:40 | Philippines Policy for Climate Action and introduction of JCM | Mr. Rolando “Jay” Abad Jr., Senior Environmental Management Specialist, Climate Change Service, DENR |
| 10:40-11:00 | Japan’s Climate Change Policy and latest development in JCM | Mr. OKANO Taishi, Senior Planning Officer for the JCM, Office for the JCM and Int’l Carbon Market, Global Environment Bureau, MOEJ |
| 11:00-11:10 | ADB’s Japan Fund for JCM scheme- the program and its development | Ms. Kat Baylon Climate Change Officer, Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment Cluster, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank- ADB |
| 11:10-11:25 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:25-11:40 | Positioning of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) within the Philippines‘ NDC and Agricultural Mitigation Framework | Ms. Perla G. Baltazar Planning Officer IV, Climate Resilient Agriculture Office, Department of Agriculture (DA) |
| 11:40- 12:00 | AWD for Climate Mitigation in the Philippines: Potential, Co-benefits, and Policy Direction | Engr. Reyne UGAY Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations, Ms.Elaine SANTOS Chief Research Analyst, and Ms. Charisse MOSQUEDA Supervising Engineer A National Irrigation Administration (NIA) |
| 12:00-12:10 | Introduction of REDD+ and Afforestation/Reforestation Rules and Guidelines in the Philippines | Ms. Ayumi ONO Assistant Director, International Forestry Cooperation Office, Japan, Forestry Agency (Online) |
| 12:10-12:35 | Q&A from the floor | |
| 12:35-13:35 | Networking Lunch | |
| 13:35-13:50 | JCM applicable criteria | Dr. MIZUNO Yuji Secretary General, JCMA |
| 13:50-15:20 (10mints for each presentation) |
Business Presentations: JCM-Relevant Project Concepts | Moderator: Masae Sumikoshi, Manager, OECC |
| Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in Agriculture including technology used for MRV | ||
| Satellite-Powered Water Management and Methane Reduction in the Philippines | Hiroya Ishitsubo CFO, Sagri Co., Ltd |
|
| Support The Creation of Nature-Based Carbon Credit Using Satellite Data | Masayuki Kurihara Senior Officer, Archeda Inc. |
|
| Establishment of Paddy Field JCM Consortium and Interim Analysis Report | Hiroki Tanaka Senior General Manager, Osaka Gas |
|
| Afforestation: | ||
| ARR project in Negros Occidental through the planting of native species | Mami Nobusawa Forest Resources Business Dept., Marubeni Corporation |
|
| Coal Early Retirement | ||
| A Transition Credit Project for Early Coal Plant Retirement and Renewable Energy Replacement | Tetsuhiko Okano Manager, Mitsubishi Corporation |
|
| Waste-to-energy and landfill gas capture/ improvement | ||
| JCM Waste-to-Energy: Comprehensive Climate Action for Philippine Communities | Gen Takahashi Deputy General manager, JFE Engineering Corporation |
|
| Solar Power Generation | ||
| Solar PV Rooftop System | Jernick Briza Asst. Supervisor, Kanepackage Philippine Inc. |
|
| Wind Power Generation | ||
| Turning the Wind into Sustainable Energy: The Romblon Island Project | Katerina Zalitko Lead Business Development Specialist, Komaihaltec Inc. |
|
| 15:20-15:30 | Key Takeaways and Session Summary | MOEJ/DENR |
| 15:30-15:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:45-17:45 | Business Matching and Individual Meetings Consultation desks available for - Government of Japan - Government of the Philippines - Asian Development Bank - Sagri - Archeda - Osaka Gas - Marubeni Corporation - Mitsubishi Corporation - JFE Engineering Corporation - KANEPACKAGE - KOMAIHAL TECH - Green Carbon Inc. - Creatura - Kanadevia |
|
Summary of Business Pitch Presentations
1. Sagri Co., Ltd. – Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in Rice Cultivation Using Digital Technologies
Sagri introduced a digital solution that supports the implementation of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation by remotely monitoring paddy field flooding conditions using satellite data and artificial intelligence (AI). The solution enables simultaneous reductions in methane emissions and improvements in water-use efficiency. A key feature is that it does not require the installation of physical sensors in the field. Its applicability to JCM projects was presented with a view toward large-scale deployment in the Philippines.
2. Arcada Co., Ltd. – Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Digital MRV
Arcada presented a measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) platform that utilizes satellite data and AI to quantify carbon removals and emission reductions in afforestation, reforestation and revegetation (ARR) projects as well as in the agricultural sector. The technology was introduced as an enabler of high-integrity credit generation under nature-based solutions (NbS), with potential application to JCM projects.
3. Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (Paddy Field JCM Consortium) – AWD-based JCM Projects in the Agricultural Sector
A consortium comprising multiple Japanese companies presented a JCM project concept based on the results of AWD demonstration activities conducted across various regions of the Philippines. In addition to methane emission reductions achieved through AWD implementation, co-benefits such as yield improvements and stabilization of farmers’ incomes were highlighted, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing JCM projects in the agricultural sector.
4. Marubeni Corporation – Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) Projects
Marubeni introduced a JCM project concept focused on Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) in Negros Province. The project model aims to generate carbon removals through long-term forest management using native species on degraded land, while also delivering co-benefits such as local employment creation and ecosystem conservation.
5. Mitsubishi Corporation – Transition Projects Involving the Early Retirement of Coal-fired Power Plants
Mitsubishi Corporation presented a transition project concept that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by retiring existing coal-fired power plants earlier than originally planned and replacing them with renewable energy and battery storage systems. The potential use of the JCM was demonstrated as a mechanism to monetize emission reductions as credits and apply them toward partial financing of capital investments.
6. JFE Engineering Corporation – Waste-to-Energy Projects
To address urban waste management challenges, JFE Engineering introduced a Waste-to-Energy project concept utilizing the JCM. The business model demonstrated how converting waste into electricity can simultaneously achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions and improvements in waste management.
7. Kanepackage Philippine Inc. – Rooftop Solar Power Generation
Kanepackage Philippine Inc. presented a case study on the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at manufacturing facilities. The initiative was introduced as an example of how renewable energy deployment using the JCM can contribute to both energy cost reductions and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
8. Komaihaltec Inc. – Wind Power Projects for Island Communities
Komaihaltec presented a wind power project concept targeting island communities with a high dependence on diesel power generation. The project proposes the deployment of small- to medium-scale wind turbines with typhoon-resistant design, highlighting the potential application of the JCM as a means to promote renewable energy while ensuring stable energy supply in island regions.
Sagri introduced a digital solution that supports the implementation of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation by remotely monitoring paddy field flooding conditions using satellite data and artificial intelligence (AI). The solution enables simultaneous reductions in methane emissions and improvements in water-use efficiency. A key feature is that it does not require the installation of physical sensors in the field. Its applicability to JCM projects was presented with a view toward large-scale deployment in the Philippines.
2. Arcada Co., Ltd. – Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Digital MRV
Arcada presented a measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) platform that utilizes satellite data and AI to quantify carbon removals and emission reductions in afforestation, reforestation and revegetation (ARR) projects as well as in the agricultural sector. The technology was introduced as an enabler of high-integrity credit generation under nature-based solutions (NbS), with potential application to JCM projects.
3. Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (Paddy Field JCM Consortium) – AWD-based JCM Projects in the Agricultural Sector
A consortium comprising multiple Japanese companies presented a JCM project concept based on the results of AWD demonstration activities conducted across various regions of the Philippines. In addition to methane emission reductions achieved through AWD implementation, co-benefits such as yield improvements and stabilization of farmers’ incomes were highlighted, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing JCM projects in the agricultural sector.
4. Marubeni Corporation – Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) Projects
Marubeni introduced a JCM project concept focused on Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) in Negros Province. The project model aims to generate carbon removals through long-term forest management using native species on degraded land, while also delivering co-benefits such as local employment creation and ecosystem conservation.
5. Mitsubishi Corporation – Transition Projects Involving the Early Retirement of Coal-fired Power Plants
Mitsubishi Corporation presented a transition project concept that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by retiring existing coal-fired power plants earlier than originally planned and replacing them with renewable energy and battery storage systems. The potential use of the JCM was demonstrated as a mechanism to monetize emission reductions as credits and apply them toward partial financing of capital investments.
6. JFE Engineering Corporation – Waste-to-Energy Projects
To address urban waste management challenges, JFE Engineering introduced a Waste-to-Energy project concept utilizing the JCM. The business model demonstrated how converting waste into electricity can simultaneously achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions and improvements in waste management.
7. Kanepackage Philippine Inc. – Rooftop Solar Power Generation
Kanepackage Philippine Inc. presented a case study on the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at manufacturing facilities. The initiative was introduced as an example of how renewable energy deployment using the JCM can contribute to both energy cost reductions and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
8. Komaihaltec Inc. – Wind Power Projects for Island Communities
Komaihaltec presented a wind power project concept targeting island communities with a high dependence on diesel power generation. The project proposes the deployment of small- to medium-scale wind turbines with typhoon-resistant design, highlighting the potential application of the JCM as a means to promote renewable energy while ensuring stable energy supply in island regions.
Intergovernmental Consultations and Exchanges on JCM Projects Involving Companies from Both Countries
On January 22, a closed consultation session was held at the Head Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the objective of further concretizing JCM project ideas. In addition to the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and relevant Philippine government agencies, Japanese companies implementing or considering JCM projects participated in discussions on challenges and next steps toward JCM project development.
In particular, with regard to Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation, which has high potential in the Philippines, intensive discussions were conducted with the participation of members of the Joint Committee (JC), including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) of the Philippines, with a view to further advancing implementation in the Philippines.
In particular, with regard to Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation, which has high potential in the Philippines, intensive discussions were conducted with the participation of members of the Joint Committee (JC), including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) of the Philippines, with a view to further advancing implementation in the Philippines.
Contact
Office for the Joint Crediting Mechanism and International Carbon Market, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
- Direct number
- +81-3-5521-8246
- jcm-contact@env.go.jp