FIRST IN PH: P2.3-B Waste-to-Energy Facility to Rise in Iloilo City

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City has taken a major step toward modernizing its waste disposal system with the groundbreaking of the country’s first Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility on April 4.

The PHP2.3-billion facility is a public-private partnership involving the Iloilo City government, MetPower Venture Partners Holdings Inc., Metro Pacific Water Investments Corp., and Metro Pacific Iloilo Water.

The waste-to-energy facility will replace the city’s existing landfill, which is set to close in 2026 after reaching the end of its 10-year lifespan.

The ISWMF will be built on a three-hectare site in Barangay Ingore, La Paz, and is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2026.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga led the groundbreaking ceremony.

Loyzaga underscored the urgent issue of solid waste management in the Philippines, citing the daily volume of plastic waste and improper disposal practices.

She said Iloilo’s rapid urbanization, population growth, and economic activity have created environmental challenges, especially in managing solid waste.

“The city of Iloilo is very lucky because in our assessment, this is one of the most innovative and groundbreaking introductions to a circular economy,” she said.

Iloilo City generates around 500 metric tons of solid waste per day, or roughly 182,500 tons annually, based on DENR data.

“As the city grows, its metabolism also grows, and we need the change that technological and social innovation can bring,” she added.

MetPower Venture President Jose Maria Niño Jesus Madara said the facility marks “the realization of a change,” laying the foundation for sustainable waste management nationwide.

“This facility is about more than just managing waste,” Madara said.

“It’s about creating jobs, improving public health, and ensuring a cleaner, greener Iloilo for generations to come,” he added.

The ISWMF integrates solutions for three critical concerns: waste, power, and water security.

Madara clarified that the facility will use anaerobic digestion instead of incineration, ensuring minimal pollution.

It is designed to process up to 475 tons per day of municipal solid waste and 115 tons of septage from Metro Pacific Iloilo Water.

The facility will feature three major components: a Materials Recovery Facility, an Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Plant, and a Refuse-Derived Fuel production unit.

The MRF will sort organic from non-organic waste to improve recycling efficiency.

The fully enclosed biogas plant will convert organic waste into 3.5 megawatts of renewable energy while minimizing odor emissions.

This energy will power the nearby Metro Pacific Water desalination plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.

This setup will reduce the desalination plant’s reliance on electricity from the grid.

The RDF unit will convert non-organic waste into 163 tons per day of fuel, which will replace 5 percent of coal used by Panay Energy Development Corp.

While the facility’s energy output is modest compared to Iloilo’s overall demand, Madara said its value lies in supporting the city’s long-term water supply through the desalination plant.

He added that Iloilo City, which holds a 3.5 percent equity share in the project, will also receive dividends based on the company’s performance.

The contract includes provisions for future expansion to accommodate waste from nearby municipalities.