National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) conducted a three-day executive program for Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary level officials of the Philippine government from April 7 to 9, 2025. This training program, requested by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), has been held since 2018. During the pandemic, it was conducted online twice, and this year it marks the seventh program overall.

The program is based on the Knowledge-Creation Theory and Leadership Theory of the late Professor Emeritus Ikujiro Nonaka (1935-2025) of Hitotsubashi University. Participants received lectures and workshops on Phronetic Leadership theory in the Philippines before their visit to Japan, where they came to learn about practical examples and best practices directly from Japanese phronetic leaders.

This time, the program focused on waste reduction and the circular economy as a key area for the effective DX,  and inspired the participants to consider the role that the government can play in achieving sustainable consumption and production. The participants listened to the lecture presented by Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA), a platform to overcome the marine plastic litter issue, and visited several organizations such as Environmental Regeneration and Material Cycle Bureau, Ministry of the Environment; Resources and Waste Recycling Bureau, City of Yokohama; GUUN Co., LTD.; and Electric Works Company, Panasonic Corporation.

On the last day, under the facilitation of Prof. Hirofumi Takada (Vice President and Director of the Executive Development Center for Global Leadership, GRIPS) and Prof. Kazuaki Takahashi (Program Director), the participants reviewed and discussed their takeaways from the program.