Gov’t to utilize garbage as power source

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government’s waste-to-energy (WTE) program could help address the country’s mounting garbage problem while generating additional electricity.

Marcos said Thursday that the program could be implemented as early as 2027 as the Department of Energy (DOE) accelerates the auction process.

“With our waste-to-energy program, the DOE is already starting to auction. So, nagbi-bid na sila sa (it is now accepting bids for the) waste-to-energy program,” Marcos said in an interview after inspecting the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City.

Marcos said the projects could be put into action next year if financing is available.

“Medyo mabilis naman yan, at ‘yung (It is moving relatively fast, and the) waste-to-energy should be, as long as the financing is available, I think will be able to put those into action by next year,” he said.

During his inspection, Marcos underscored the persistent problem of garbage clogging drainage systems and pumping stations, particularly during heavy rains.

The WTE program is intended to reduce the volume of garbage ending up in landfills and waterways while converting municipal solid waste into electricity.

The DOE said on Aug. 12 that around 400 megawatts (MW) of WTE capacity have been included in the Green Energy Auction program, with the auction scheduled for Oct. 13.

Winning projects are expected to achieve mechanical completion by the end of 2028 and begin delivering electricity by the end of 2029.

DOE data show that around 200 MW of power could be generated from the 9,000 metric tons of solid waste produced daily in Metro Manila.

The government is pursuing WTE as part of efforts to develop more sustainable waste management solutions and diversify the country’s energy sources while addressing its mounting solid waste problem.