Engr. Reinier Bagabay, the chair of the RC Council, and RC Council Tri-cord Director Malou Formalejo closed their year-end meeting by reviewing key initiatives and regulatory matters related to the chemical industry. The meeting showcased the Council’s success under the Philippine Chemical Industry Roadmap (PCIR), including coastal cleanup work and a series of RC trainings for industry professionals and higher education institutions (HEIs). These trainings were conducted by the industry-academe subworking group, headed by Engr. Albert Samuela — the group’s contribution to knowledge-sharing and capacity building across sectoral-level efforts. 

The meeting also featured regulatory communications, focusing on Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine National Police (PNP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Bureau of Customs (BOC). The enhanced functionality of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) Online Application for Certification and Exemption Information System (OACEIS) Version 2 was also acknowledged by membership, which simplified processes for controlled chemicals, increased the efficiency of regulations, and made compliant systems more efficient. 

In addition, the Council discussed the current RC verification procedure and agreed plans were made to grow the RC audit community by 2026. This step is to better ensure responsible practices are sustained across the industry, which can strengthen program implementation and oversight.

It ended with a friendly Thanksgiving and a gift exchange, which helped reinforce the comradeship among the members and their shared commitment to responsible care. RC Council is committed to the future progress of the chemical industry: continuous improvement, compliance with the law, and the continued progression of the group toward a better (sustainable) future.