PPP Center green-lights waste-to-energy project

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Integrated Solid Waste Management (SWM) project of Iloilo City, which aims to convert solid waste into energy, passed the first stage of its inception with the approval of its Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) support.

Engr. Neil Ravena chief of the Solid Waste Management Division of General Services Office (GSO) confirmed the development in a press conference on Wednesday.

“Approved na aton PDMF and project concept note. The PPP Center will be the one to match up for any proponent of the project,” he said.

In a press statement, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said that the PDMF support includes the conduct of feasibility studies, project structuring, preparation of tender documents, management of the bid process, and assistance until financial close.

The PPP Center said the Iloilo City SWM was approved for support last Jan 9, 2020, together with two other local PPP projects in the country.

Ravena said around 16 proponents have signified their intent to partner with the city on the project.

He underscored the need to hasten the SWM project as the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Calajunan Mandurriao district has only four years left to operate.

“The lifespan of our landfill is four years na lang. Ang PPP Center may ginhatag sila na time frame pero tani ginapadasig namon na if we could have it in two years, dapat ara na,” he said.

He emphasized that the city’s sanitary landfill could not solely address the waste problems of the city.

Hence, there is a need to establish the SWM project as soon as possible.

“Landfill alone is not a solution sa aton basura so nagengage kita sa PPP Center. Amo gid na ang solusyon,” he said.

The SWM facility is one of the three big-ticket projects that the city government will roll out under the PPP scheme.

Through its sustainable approach, the project targets to address the waste in the city through segregation, recovery, treatment, and remediation, and possibly waste-to-energy.

It also intends to cater to adjoining municipalities such as Oton, Pavia, Leganes, Sta. Barbara and Dumangas.

Aside from solid waste management, Mayor Jerry Treñas has announced that the city government will also upgrade markets and the slaughterhouse under the PPP scheme.