Iloilo City will embark on the country’s first waste-to-energy project through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), set to commence construction in October 2024.
Led by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the city government held a ceremonial contract exchange ceremony on March 1 with Metro Pacific Water (MPW), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Water Investments Corporation (MPWIC), for the construction of state-of-the-art Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF).
The city government’s project partner was represented by MPWIC President and CEO Andrew Pangilinan; Metro Pacific Iloilo Water Chief Operating Office Rob Cabiles; and MetPower Venture Partners Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Jose Maria Madara.
“This outcome marks a historic milestone for us – building one of the country’s most technologically advanced waste recovery facilities only here in Iloilo City,” Treñas said.
Aside from addressing environmental issues, the project will also spare the city government from spending too much for the operation of the sanitary landfill in Calahunan, Mandurriao.
To be constructed in a 3-hectare property in Barangay Ingore, La Paz, the P2.3 billion ISWMF has a capacity to process 475 tons of solid waste per day.
The facility can produce up to 3.5 megawatts of power to augment the 10 megawatts for the desalination plant, which can produce water supply at a lower cost for consumers.
The city mayor added that the city government will also get a share of the power generated from the facility.
On his part, Pangilinan said he is very grateful to the Iloilo City Government under Treñas for being very supportive of the project that is beneficial for the Ilonggos.
Madara shared that they are already starting the permitting process to get relevant permits from various national government agencies. These include environmental clearances from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“The process and the technologies that we are adopting for this project will be fully compliant with environmental laws of the country. We are confident that we will be able to meet those standards,” Madara told the local press. (Iloilo City PIO)
