Capitol pushes for WTE facility

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Government is pushing for the establishment of a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant as pressure mounts to address the province’s worsening garbage problem.

This as local government units in Cebu grapple with the issue of garbage disposal, following the deadly landfill collapse in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said the Capitol has begun discussions with potential project proponents to fast-track the development of the WTE facility, citing the urgent need for a sustainable waste management solution.

“Our WTE is already in the works. It’s really a facility that we need right now,” Baricuatro said on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Provincial officials estimate that around 600 tons of garbage from Cebu City are sent daily to landfills across the province.

Baricuatro earlier said the provincial government aims to start construction of the facility within the year and have it operational by 2027.

A waste-to-energy plant converts solid waste into usable energy such as electricity, heat, or fuel through processes including incineration, gasification, or anaerobic digestion.

The technology is promoted as a way to reduce landfill waste, generate power from trash, and support waste management and energy needs, but it also raises concerns related to emissions, costs, and environmental impact.

The Capitol initially considered Naga City as a possible site, but Baricuatro clarified that no final location has been decided.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has opposed the adoption of WTE technology as a solution to the city’s garbage problem, citing environmental safety issues, the lack of clear regulatory guidelines from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and potential long-term risks to public health and the environment.

Discussions on alternative waste solutions were accelerated after the trash slide at the Binaliw landfill that killed 36 people, most of whom were landfill workers.

Meanwhile, the provincial government pledged financial assistance to the family of a 50-year-old rescuer from Toledo City who died after being deployed during operations at the Binaliw landfill.

The governor also expressed condolences and said she intends to visit the wake.

“We will be providing assistance to the family as well,” she added.

Including the volunteer emergency responder, the Binaliw landfill collapse claimed a total of 37 lives.(MyTVCebu)