DENR exec praises Iloilo City for cutting-edge solid waste mgt facility
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga lauded Iloilo City for being a pioneer in sustainable waste management in the country, with the construction of a cutting-edge Integrated Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF) in Barangay Ingore, La Paz.
Yulo-Loyzaga, who served as guest speaker during the groundbreaking ceremony for the facility on April 4, particularly commended the visionary leadership of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
“His commitment to sustainability and climate and disaster resilience for the city is one that I truly admire. He makes sure that no one is left behind,” she said.
The DENR executive expressed gratitude and commendation towards Manuel V. Pangilinan and the MVP Group and its subsidiary, MetPower Venture Partners Holdings, as well as to all stakeholders for their invaluable contributions in bringing the groundbreaking project to fruition.
“Your dedication to environmental responsibility and energy and water security will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the region and on nation as you replicate this,” she added.
The ISWMF is being undertaken through a joint venture agreement between the Iloilo City Government and MetPower. Inspired by progressive Southeast Asian nations, the project adopts state-of-the-art technologies to transform waste into valuable resources while promoting sustainable development.
Unlike traditional waste-to-energy methods that rely on incineration, the ISWMF will employ a cleaner and greener approach. Utilizing Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT), Anaerobic Digestion (AD), and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, the facility will convert waste into methane-rich biogas, generating 3.5 MW of renewable energy to support Metro Pacific Water’s desalination plant.
“In urbanized areas like Iloilo City, the challenge is greater as rapid economic and population growth is accompanied oftentimes by unsustainable production and consumption. The Iloilo City LGU is very lucky because in our assessment, this is one of the most innovative and groundbreaking introductions to a circular economy as we may develop it,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.
In his message read by Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Mayor Treñas emphasized that it is high time for the city to go into innovative and long-term solution in terms of its waste management.
He cited that for years, the city spent millions of pesos solely on the soil cover of the sanitary landfill in Calahunan, Mandurriao.
“This endeavor aims to meet the needs of our growing city while ensuring a cleaner, safer environment for everyone,” the city mayor shared.
The project is also just in time as the lifespan of the sanitary landfill is already near the end of its operational life.
He added that the milestone positions Iloilo as a pioneer in sustainable waste management across the nation and aligns with the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship, renewable energy adaptation, and the principles of a circular economy.
“This project is another strong testament to what we can achieve when we work together with vision and purpose. It reflects our determination to lead Iloilo City toward progress while ensuring that our environment is protected and preserved for future generations. I look forward to the realization of this transformative project and the many benefits it will bring to our city,” Treñas emphasized. (GSTayona/Iloilo City PIO)