(Photo courtesy of PIA)
SANTA ROSA, Nueva Ecija – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has urged local government units (LGUs) across Nueva Ecija to support the establishment of a province-wide waste-to-energy (WTE) facility as a long-term solution to growing solid waste management challenges.
Nueva Ecija Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Artemio Almazan Jr. backed the proposal raised by municipal environment and natural resources officers (MENROs) during the fourth-quarter meeting of the Provincial Technical Working Group (PTWG) for the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program.
Almazan stressed the need to explore alternative waste management technologies, citing the limited operating lifespan of sanitary landfills and the substantial land areas required for their development.
“One of the good projects that we can pursue is to bring the Waste-to-Energy proposal to the national government for adoption,” Almazan said.
He explained that a centralized WTE facility could process residual waste collected from several municipalities and potentially convert discarded materials into useful products, including energy, fuel, construction materials and fertilizer, depending on the technology adopted.
The DENR official encouraged municipal environment officers to coordinate with their respective mayors, the provincial government and congressional representatives to secure broader support for the proposed project.
“I hope our MENROs, municipal mayors, the provincial government, and our congressmen can help us establish a Waste-to-Energy plant here in Nueva Ecija. At least we can start the initiative here and eventually see it adopted on a national scale,” he said.
Several municipal environment officers expressed support for the proposal, citing increasing expenses associated with waste collection, transportation and disposal.
To advance discussions, Almazan said the DENR would invite companies and institutions specializing in waste-to-energy technologies to the next PTWG meeting.
The invited groups are expected to present available systems, investment requirements and potential applications suitable for Nueva Ecija.
The proposed facility remains in the preliminary discussion stage, with further consultations needed to determine its technical and financial feasibility.
DENR strengthens water conservation efforts amid El Niño concerns
Aside from solid waste management, the DENR is intensifying water conservation initiatives to help communities prepare for the possible effects of El Niño.
Almazan reported that approximately 50 to 60 Small Water Impounding System projects have been established across Nueva Ecija, primarily to support nurseries and reforestation activities.
The agency is also working to rehabilitate nonfunctional water impounding facilities to expand available water sources, particularly in communities experiencing limited supply.
These efforts were discussed during the PTWG meeting, which also assessed the province’s accomplishments under the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program.
Among the priorities reviewed were water quality monitoring, solid waste management and compliance with environmental regulations.
Almazan called on LGUs and partner institutions to strengthen coordination and adopt sustainable approaches to addressing waste disposal and water conservation challenges.
“Let us give proper attention to our waste and explore technologies that will allow us to process and make these materials useful to our communities,” he said.
The DENR said the initiatives support the Marcos administration’s environmental protection and climate resilience priorities through stronger cooperation between national government agencies and local authorities.
