ILOILO City – A proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) plant here has sparked fierce opposition from a coalition of environmental groups that warn the project could do more harm than good.
The newly-formed Green-Empowered Movement is calling on the city government to come clean about the project’s environmental and health risks, decrying the lack of transparency surrounding its approval process.
Despite mounting concerns, city officials have failed to disclose critical information about the Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF) and its WTE component, according to the coalition composed of Green Forum Panay-Guimaras, ILIG Batiano, Greenpeace Iloilo Volunteers, People Against False Solutions, Green EcoWarriors, and Youth Voices Count, Inc.
In an open letter, the group noted that since March 2024 when reports surfaced that the city government had signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) with a private entity for the WtE plant, requests for project details have been met with silence.
“We reiterate our call to the Iloilo City Government for absolute transparency on the ISWMF/WtE project and the health and environmental harms of waste incineration. The city must inform Ilonggos how they decided on such hazardous technology, whether people have been told the risks, and what the city’s plan is to protect the community from health impacts and pollution of waste-to-energy. The city should stop promoting false solutions and make decisions that protect people,” said Romela Gianan, Greenpeace Iloilo Volunteers coordinator.
The coalition criticized the city government’s February 2025 public consultation, arguing that such discussions should have taken place before signing agreements.
Under the 2023 guidelines set by the National Development and Economic Authority, stakeholders must be informed of the key terms of a JVA within seven days of negotiation. According to the coalition, this did not happen and instead, residents were left in the dark until the consultation, where many voiced their strong opposition.
Further highlighting the transparency issue, Barangay Ingore officials revealed in June 2024 that they were unaware of the WtE project when coalition members visited the site. That same month, the city government was invited to discuss the project at a public forum organized by civil society organizations. Despite confirming attendance, city officials failed to appear, missing a critical opportunity to address public concerns, according to the coalition.
“Elected leaders should prioritize the safety of their communities. We want a future – a healthy future for all. Let’s not be greenwashed. A bane is a bane. Let’s protect our communities and the next generations to come,” said Kyla Balibagoso, lead convenor of Green EcoWarriors.
The ISWMF will be built next to an existing coal plant and will house facilities for anaerobic digestion, refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing, desalination, and materials recovery.
The coalition’s primary concern is the WtE plant and the RDF, which essentially repackages waste as fuel. Both processes emit harmful air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and toxic by-products like ash, which even advanced filtration technologies cannot fully contain.
If these facilities proceed, the coalition warns of severe environmental and health consequences.
Additionally, it pointed out that the ISWMF’s location, less than 50 meters from residential areas, raises concerns about the forced displacement of residents to accommodate the daily transport of waste.
“With Iloilo City considered as among the walkable and progressive cities in the country, these projects defeat the purpose of truly achieving a green city. A true green city is one where communities are not only protected but also its resources; this ensures long – term sustainability at the core of true development and not just industrialization with no nature-based solutions,” said Queenie Agdalipe, coordinator of People Against False Solutions./PN