ILOILO CITY (PIA6) -- The Iloilo City government might soon stop using sanitary landfill to address the metro’s garbage woes as the city government, through its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) – Selection Committee, had a successful negotiation deal with the Metro Pacific Water (MPW), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC), for the construction of Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF).

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and MPIC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rogelio “Babes” Singson led the ceremonial signing of the joint certification of the successful negotiation for the city’s waste-to-energy (WtE) project on June 27, 2023.

landfills, conserving natural resources, and minimizing environmental impact.

The ISWMF is also estimated to result in a reduction of 129,000 metric tons of CO2 Equivalent per year, and will treat, recover, and convert the city’s waste into Refuse-Derived Fuel and Biogas which are considered as renewable energy sources by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Treñas noted that the proposed project will still have to go through a Swiss challenge, which is one of the processes provided in the city PPP ordinance.

Swiss challenge is an alternative selection process wherein third parties or challengers will be invited to submit comparative proposals for a project as defined in the Integrated Public-Private Partnership Code, to discourage frivolous projects or to avoid inflated project costs.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief, Engr. Neil Ravena said that they will close the Calajunan Sanitary Landfill in Mandurriao district and rehabilitate it through bioremediation as part of the preparation for the project.

The 23-hectare sanitary landfill caters 370 tons of solid wastes generated in Iloilo City per day. (AAL/JNH/PIA6 Iloilo)