BACOLOD CITY – This highly urbanized city is eyeing the generation of 10 megawatts (MW) of power from a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility to be developed in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE).

Following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Mayor Greg Gasataya and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on Monday, a technical working group (TWG) will be formed to kick off the initiative.

Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said Tuesday that the TWG is expected to be created within 15 days from the signing of the agreement.

"A team from the DOE may visit the city next week," he said in a message.

The agreement establishes a framework for technical cooperation and coordination between the two parties to advance the installation of a WTE facility.

Under the partnership, the DOE and Bacolod City will collaborate to identify the most feasible WTE technology, facilitate access to technical data for developers, and select a qualified project partner.

The agreement provides that the city government will receive technical assistance and institutional support for a WTE facility capable of generating up to 10 MW of power.

“We will not limit our initiatives to efficient garbage collection and landfill management. We will also pursue a waste-to-energy plant as a proactive solution to our garbage woes,” Gasataya earlier said.

Bacolod City has been identified as a viable location for the project based on the study titled “Assessment of the Potential of WTE Technology in the Philippines,” commissioned by the DOE in 2022.

Data from the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office show the city generates between 1,700 and 2,500 cubic meters of waste daily, all of which are disposed of at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.