Iloilo sees modular waste plan easing LGU concerns

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo provincial government is exploring the potential of a modular solid waste management approach, which could allow implementation at the congressional district level and help overcome long-standing local opposition to centralized waste facilities.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. met with officials from MetPower Venture Partners Holdings, Inc. on Jan. 15 to discuss a public-private partnership (PPP) proposal that would convert residual waste from the province’s 43 municipalities into renewable energy.

MetPower, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., proposed a modular facility equipped with advanced technology to convert waste into refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Unlike previous proposals, which failed due to inadequate waste volume, the modular approach offers scalability and flexibility, potentially making it viable for smaller waste streams.

“The problem with solid waste management — we have received so many proposals, but it is not viable. The models don’t work. The technology is not even tested,” Defensor said. “This one, since there is an ongoing project in the city, there is a possibility that a model can be viable for us.”

Data from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office show that an average of 80 tons per day of residual waste from 35 municipalities is currently brought to the integrated waste management facility in Passi City.

Under the province’s solid waste management plan, each of Iloilo’s five congressional districts should have at least one qualified sanitary landfill. However, implementation has stalled due to consistent resistance from local governments unwilling to host facilities or accept waste from neighboring municipalities.

“When we propose this, there is always opposition. A local government unit (LGU) does not want to accept waste coming from other LGUs,” Defensor said.

He added that the modular setup could enable the establishment of district-level facilities, potentially addressing these inter-LGU concerns — provided the project proves both technically sound and financially feasible.

The provincial government expects MetPower to submit a more detailed proposal within four to six weeks.

MetPower is already working with the Iloilo City government on a PHP 2.3 billion PPP project to build the country’s first integrated solid waste management facility (ISWMF). The facility processes 475 tons of municipal solid waste daily, generating 3.5 megawatts of renewable energy and producing 163 tons of RDF for industrial use. It includes an anaerobic digestion biogas plant that powers infrastructure such as Metro Pacific Water’s desalination plant.