Efforts to improve solid waste management are moving forward after the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved Mayor Greg Gasataya’s request to enter into an agreement with a private firm for a ₱4-billion waste-to-energy (WTE) project in Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, April 29.
City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu described the approval as a landmark development, noting that the project will not require any financial outlay from the city government.
“We will be the first, probably in the Philippines. I heard Davao is also developing their waste-to-energy. In the Philippines, Bacolod is the first to develop its waste-to-energy. We only provide a lot. They will spend their own money in developing the WTE,” Chiu said.
The council authorized the mayor to sign a lease agreement with Forza Development Corporation (FDC), which will develop the facility within the city’s sanitary landfill under the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Technological Hub (BIRTH) WTE Industrial Zone.
Chiu said the project could position Bacolod as a leader in waste-to-energy initiatives in the Philippines.
“So, this shows a strong commitment for Bacolod City to establish the WTE,” Chiu added.
Under the agreement, the city will provide the land, while FDC will fund and build the facility. In return, the city is expected to benefit from real property taxes, revenue shares from power generation, and job creation for local communities, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
The Bids and Awards Committee endorsed the project to the mayor on April 14, awarding it to FDC as the highest calculated responsive bidder. The company offered an annual lease of ₱1.01 million.
The WTE project forms part of the Gasataya administration’s push for sustainable waste management while creating economic opportunities, especially for residents near the sanitary landfill.*
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