BACOLOD City — Japan is looking to deepen its sustainability partnership with Bacolod City, as Consul General Yudai Ueno expressed strong support for the city’s push toward waste-to-energy (WTE) development and other green initiatives.
During a courtesy visit to Mayor Greg Gasataya on April 15, Ueno commended Bacolod for being among the first local government units to signify interest in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) WTE program, positioning the city as a potential model for local-level clean energy transition.
The Japanese envoy also highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation beyond energy, including water treatment and infrastructure—key focus areas under ongoing Japan Friendship Year engagements.
“We have advanced technology,” Ueno said, citing Tokyo’s WTE facilities that safely operate even within residential areas.
He likewise expressed Japan’s readiness to link Bacolod with technical experts and industry partners to help accelerate project development.
Mayor Gasataya reaffirmed the city’s commitment to the initiative, describing WTE as a long-term solution to Bacolod’s growing solid waste management challenges.
“This is the way forward,” he said, noting that Bacolod is among the DOE’s pilot areas for the program.
The meeting also reopened discussions on collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has supported Bacolod since the 1980s through various studies and development projects.
Gasataya said reviving ties with JICA could unlock additional technical and financial assistance for future initiatives.
Both sides expressed optimism that stronger cooperation will lead to concrete projects, with follow-up discussions expected between Bacolod officials and Japanese partners in the coming months.
Earlier, in addressing its growing waste management concerns, the Bacolod City Government partnered with the DOE to implement renewable energy and WTE initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable urban development.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by Gasataya and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on January 26 at the DOE Central Office in Taguig City for the development of a WTE facility.
In 2022, the DOE commissioned the study “Assessment of the Potential of WTE Technology in the Philippines,” which identified Bacolod City as a viable site for such a project.
The MOA establishes a framework for technical cooperation and coordination, including identifying the most suitable WTE technology, facilitating access to technical data for prospective developers, and selecting a qualified project partner.
It also covers the development of a work program, regular progress monitoring, and the conduct of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns to build public awareness and support.
In an earlier visit to the city’s more than 30-hectare sanitary landfill, Gasataya reiterated the local government’s commitment to the project, describing it as a potential game changer in addressing Bacolod’s waste management challenges./PN
