AFTER the initial plans to set up a waste-to-energy plant in neighboring Sablan fell through, the city government has decided to instead begin working towards the put-up of a waste-to-energy facility within its own borders.
The facility is planned to be put up in the city-owned 139 hectare lot in Sto. Tomas after the city’s partner proponent inspects the site for usability and plan adjustments.
Currently, the proponent for this 10-megawatt waste-to-energy plant has yet to be selected. Once a final proponent is chosen by the city, it will then jointly shoulder the cost of the facility in partnership with both the local government and the State-owned Philippine National Oil Company–Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC).
Previously, the local government of Baguio eyed neighboring Sablan in Benguet as the site of the planned waste-to-energy facility meant to cater to the city and its neighbors’ waste disposal woes.
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that city officials met with members of the Benguet provincial board, Sablan municipal council, and Metro Global Renewables Corporation as the proponent, to tackle concerns regarding the planning and execution of the planned waste-to-energy facility.
According to Magalong, a majority of the Sablan council have voiced their approval for the project.
However, subsequent talks with the Sablan government led to “mixed signals” that led to the project being pulled out and relocated to within Baguio’s territory.
The Baguio government has already committed more than 400 tons of feed stock garbage for use in the waste-to-energy facility, leaving the remainder of the minimum 500 tons of garbage up to the neighboring municipalities to supply in order for the facility to produce its expected 10 megawatts worth of power.
Presently, Baguio City and some local governments in Benguet are hauling out their generated residual waste to the sanitary landfill based in Capas, Tarlac through a commissioned private hauler.
With the planned waste-to-energy facility, the local government is hoping to address its garbage woes without the need for the put-up of a landfill facility.
