BACOLOD City – The city’s long-planned waste-to-energy project is now moving forward after the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) authorized Mayor Greg Gasataya to sign the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Feedstock Supply Agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE).
During its regular session on October 29, the SP approved the request of Mayor Gasataya to enter into the agreements with the DOE, represented by Secretary Sharon Garin.
Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson explained that the project aims to generate renewable energy by converting waste materials into electricity.
The initiative will be jointly implemented by the city government and the national government. The local government will provide the site and the solid waste feedstock, while the DOE will handle the technical aspects of the project.
Sayson said that before the SP ratifies the agreements, the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) will be invited to present more details about the project.
“BENRO has jurisdiction over waste management, so they will be the ones to provide us with the full details of the project,” he added.
The proposed site for the facility will be located within the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.
The project seeks to convert solid waste into usable energy, such as electricity, through various waste-to-energy technologies. Instead of dumping garbage in landfills, this initiative will recover energy from waste — helping reduce pollution and promote sustainable waste management.
The local government has been actively promoting renewable energy initiatives. Bacolod City currently utilizes solar power, with solar generation systems installed at the Bacolod City Government Center and in several barangays during the administration of former mayor and now Lone District’s Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez.
Benitez earlier emphasized the city’s commitment to sustainable development and cost-effective energy solutions./PN
