ILOILO — Facing rising waste volumes and mounting pressure to modernize disposal systems, the Iloilo provincial government is considering a public-private partnership (PPP) to establish modular advanced solid waste management facilities per congressional district, a shift that Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said could finally make the long-proposed project economically viable.
Officials of MetPower Venture Partners, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), recently discussed with him a proposal for an advanced solid waste management facility that would upgrade the province’s waste disposal system while supporting a circular economy model.
The governor said a similar proposal had been presented two years ago but was shelved due to insufficient waste volume to justify the investment.
“But right now naglain kita. There’s a possibility nga puede sia mag-modular,” Defensor said.
He explained that a modular approach, implemented per congressional district, could address both economic viability and long-standing opposition from communities reluctant to host centralized landfills.
Under the province’s Solid Waste Management Plan, each congressional district is required to have at least one qualified sanitary landfill, a requirement Defensor admitted has repeatedly failed due to resistance from host municipalities.
“Indi gusto sang isa ka banwa nga dira sa ila mahaboy ang iban nga mga banwa. The good news is right now may iban nga mga municipalities kita nga ready kag may duta na,” he added.
Defensor said the provincial government is now awaiting a comprehensive proposal from MetPower within four to six weeks, after which the project may formally proceed under a PPP scheme.
Addressing environmental concerns, Defensor noted that similar waste technologies are widely used in developed countries and should not pose undue risk if properly managed.
The proposed PPP aims to manage residual waste from the province’s 43 municipalities. Data from the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) show that an average of 80 tons of residual waste per day from 35 municipalities is currently disposed of at the integrated waste management facility in Passi City.
Under the proposal, modular advanced facilities would convert waste into refuse-derived fuel (RDF), generating renewable energy while reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable energy practices.
The project also aligns with the provincial government’s commitment to a circular economy, which seeks to minimize waste and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. Defensor said the province is willing to provide land for the construction of the facility.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City has already broken ground on its own integrated waste management facility in Barangay Ingore, La Paz, also in partnership with MetPower./PN
