The Bacolod City Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) has formalized a new implementation framework to fast-track the establishment of a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, aiming to transform the city’s mounting refuse into a sustainable power source.
The board recently drafted a resolution to adopt the integration framework, which now awaits a final nod from the Bacolod City Council before being submitted to the National Solid Waste Management Commission for review.
This legislative move follows a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed last month between Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin.
The partnership establishes a technical cooperation roadmap, identifying Bacolod as a prime site for a facility capable of generating up to 15 megawatts of electricity.
The proposed plant is slated for construction at the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Technology Hub, a 25.7-hectare city-owned property in Barangay Felisa, strategically located adjacent to the existing sanitary landfill.
Gasataya characterized the project as a “proactive solution” to the city’s waste disposal challenges, emphasizing a shift away from traditional landfilling.
He noted that the city will not limit its initiatives to efficient garbage collection but will pursue a waste-to-energy plant to address garbage woes while providing an additional power source.
The project has gained strong backing from the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance. MBCCI President Juliana Carbon highlighted the urgency of the project, noting that the city’s current landfill cells are reaching capacity at an unsustainable rate—often filling up in as little as 18 months.
The framework also integrates with the city’s broader “Solar Solutions for Government” program, a DOE-backed initiative targeting a 10% reduction in fuel and energy consumption for public buildings.
Under the current partnership, the DOE will provide the technical expertise necessary to help the city select the most efficient technology and vet private sector partners for the facility’s development.