There is mounting pressure coming from environmental watchdogs (e.g. Greenpeace), interest
groups and academe for local industries and electronic manufacturers to implement
management mechanisms that would respond to the potential and perceived problems of Ewaste.
In addition, there is also pressure emanating from importing countries (e.g. US, Japan
Drivers of and barriers to E-waste management in the Philippines
3
and Europe) for the country to implement environmental measures with regards to the
process and production aspects and management of discarded E-waste in line with the
environmental and health requirements for electronic products of the importing countries
(Parayno, 2004). Electronics and electronic products (semiconductor) remain the single most
important export of the Philippines and constitute more than 60% of the total exports. The
enactment of WEEE and RoHS Directives of the European Union left electronic
manufacturers with no other choice but to comply with the European directives in order to
export electronic products to Europe2
.