Since signing a memorandum of understanding on city-to-city cooperation in 2012, Yokohama and Cebu City have been working together to promote sustainable urban development in the Metro Cebu area. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival visited Yokohama, together with Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro, and signed the Asian Circular Cities Declaration (ACCD).
ICLEI Japan established the ACCD following strong support from Asian cities and international organizations in response to Yokohama’s call at the Asia Smart City Conference (ASCC) 2025, held in Yokohama in November 2025. Mayor Archival visited Yokohama to sign the declaration document on February 26, 2026 and formally presented the signed document to the Chair of ICLEI Japan in the presence of Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka.
At the handover ceremony, Mayor Yamanaka commented, “Together with Cebu City and the other signatory cities, we aim to strengthen policy implementation across Asia. As the city that called for establishing the declaration framework, Yokohama will continue to promote the realization of circular cities throughout the region.” Following that, Mayor Archival stated, “While learning from Japan’s outstanding innovations, we hope to expand this advanced network across Asia. Walking together with Yokohama, Cebu City will firmly uphold its commitments. Through this, we seek to advance the transition to circular cities across Asia—reducing waste, extending care to people, and protecting the global environment.”
Upon receiving the signed declaration from the Mayor of Cebu City, ICLEI Japan Chair Takemoto remarked, “With the support of the Mayor of Yokohama, ICLEI Japan launched the Asian Circular Cities Declaration initiative last November. Starting with Yokohama, we have received signatures from the heads of ten local governments as of today. Cities that sign by the end of March this year will be recognized as founding cities. Together with these proactive municipalities, ICLEI Japan will work toward achieving our shared global goal of building a circular society.” Governor Baricuatro of Cebu Province, who accompanied the Mayor of Cebu City to Yokohama and attended the ceremony, expressed her support: “As Governor, I am determined to further strengthen cooperation under this declaration together with the Mayor of Cebu City. I am confident that this collaboration between Cebu City and Yokohama will continue to grow even deeper. I am also pleased that Cebu City is moving forward as a new founding member of the Asian Circular Cities Declaration.”
In Metro Cebu, the management of waste plastics has become a major urban challenge. Amid rapid population growth and economic development, waste generation has surged, yet there is no sustainable system in place for collection and treatment. As a result, landfills are piled high with waste, including plastics, and disposal capacity remains chronically insufficient. Moreover, improperly discarded plastic waste clogs drainage systems, causing floods and inundation damage across Metro Cebu whenever heavy rains occur.
Yokohama’s cooperation began with support for urban development planning in Metro Cebu and has since expanded to include assistance for the construction of recycling plants by Yokohama-based companies, capacity-building for waste management officials, public awareness campaigns on waste segregation and collection, and the development of sludge treatment facilities and collection systems through grant aid from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency.) Cebu City is also exploring the development of a waste-to-energy plant as a further response to its waste challenges. During this visit to Yokohama, following the handover ceremony, the delegation inspected a waste-to-energy facility in Kanazawa Ward.
In Asia, where socioeconomic conditions vary among countries and cities, we will promote the transition to Asia‑specific circular cities under the framework of the Asian Circular Cities Declaration, while recognizing the differences in circumstances and conditions in each city.
Related Links:
Calling for Signatories: Asian Circular Cities Declaration (ACCD)
https://japan.iclei.org/en/asian-circular-cities-declaration-call-for-city-partners/
Yokohama leads Asian Circular Cities Declaration as first signatory at ASCC 2025
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