Iloilo City is poised to seek the council’s approval for a P2.3-billion waste-to-energy (WTE) project proposal which aims to power a desalination plant and address the city’s landfill concerns, by a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
In a report by Business World, Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” P. Treñas said that the project has passed the city’s public-private partnership selection committee and is scheduled for council submission on November 3.
The waste-to-energy process involves harnessing the heat generated by burning waste at elevated temperatures, which is then used to produce steam for driving turbines and generating electricity.
Recently, the city government inked a negotiated deal with MetroPac Water Investments Corp., an MPIC subsidiary, for the proposed Iloilo City Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility designed to process up to 470 tons of nonrecyclable waste as potential fuel daily and generate about 2.4 megawatts of electricity.
Furthermore, Treñas emphasized that once the WTE project becomes operational, there will be no need to construct another module for a sanitary landfill, a move that would result in significant cost savings.
After facing delays in its initial introduction in 2019 due to required consultation with suppliers and studying international best practices, faster progress after acquiring approval from national agencies is anticipated.
The proposal must first gain approval from the council and then navigate the regulatory processes of national government agencies before construction permits can be issued.
