During the “Aprubado sa Konseho” session on Tuesday morning, May 21, 2024, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Davao City Councilor Louie John J. Bonguyan emphasized the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant as the solution to the city’s landfill problems.
He highlighted that the plant would operate under strict regulations despite involving waste burning. “If the project complies with all our environmental laws in the Philippines, then it’s acceptable. However, if it doesn’t meet our standards, we won’t implement it in Davao City. It should be something we’re proud of,” Bonguyan stated. The WTE project, initially proposed in 2015, required 500 to 550 tons of garbage, a quantity Davao City couldn’t meet at that time. This year, however, the city’s waste output has increased to about 700 to 800 tons.
Bonguyan explained that the WTE project involves burning garbage to generate energy, ensuring environmental concerns are addressed. He drew parallels with Japan’s real-time monitoring of carbon dioxide emissions, where exceeding limits results in automatic plant shutdowns. While acknowledging Japan’s grant for the project, Bonguyan highlighted the need for significant local funding to match it. He mentioned that the local government unit (LGU) and relevant ordinances are not obstacles, awaiting confirmation and funding from the national government. The proposed WTE site in Biao Escuela, Davao City, spans 10 hectares and will also accommodate an eco-township promoting various activities, including recycling.
Addressing concerns about an Australian firm’s interest in non-incineration waste technology, Bonguyan noted that only the Japan-funded WTE project had been discussed in his committee. Meanwhile, Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo is expected to present the Australian firm’s proposal, which plans to construct a 50-megawatt plant, larger than the Japan-funded 12-megawatt one. Opposition to the WTE project comes from the local environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis). The group’s executive director, Lawyer Mark Peñalver, argues that incineration or alternative heating methods still produce harmful chemicals. Peñalver advocates for eco-friendly initiatives and stringent environmental regulations as the true solutions to Davao City’s waste problem on climate change.
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