DOE chief seeks passage of waste-to-energy bill

MANILA, Philippines — To address the country’s perennial flooding problem, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin is seeking the passage of the bill that will further institutionalize the use of waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies.

“We pushed for it in the last three years… I think (President Marcos) is very supportive of this, so hopefully, the waste-to-energy law will finally be passed,” Garin said in a recent interview.

Garin said the House of Representatives approved the proposed WTE Act during the 19th Congress but struggled to gain traction in the Senate.

“We’re hoping that with the support of Sen. Win (Gatchalian) and Sen. Pia (Cayetano), there will be renewed interest in the WTE bill,” she said.

Cayetano and Gatchalian are currently serving as the chairperson and vice chairperson of the Senate committee on energy, respectively.

The country’s growing waste crisis was thrust back into the spotlight after a series of tropical cyclones and enhanced monsoon rains triggered severe flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces last month.

According to Garin, the WTE bill will make waste management “more cohesive” by clustering local government units and ensuring a consistent supply of waste as fuel for energy generation.

“One thing about WTE is that it is more of an environmental activity rather than an energy one. What we’re really doing is making the environment cleaner by using waste and transforming it into energy,” the secretary said.

The adoption of WTE technologies is mandated under Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

A WTE technology, as defined by the law, refers to a system that converts biodegradable materials such as animal manure or agricultural waste into usable energy through “anaerobic digestion, fermentation and gasification, among others.”

The law, however, requires that such energy conversion strictly comply with the provisions and intent of the Clean Air Act of 1999 and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Department of Energy (DOE) data showed that 13 biomass contracts for WTE projects were issued as of end-December 2022, with only six being operational.

Through the WTE law, the DOE wants to attract more investments in WTE technologies as it gears up for a green energy auction planned later this year.

Recently, ATD Waste-to-Energy Corp. announced plans to invest P4 billion to build a large-scale WTE plant in New Clark City.

The company, in partnership with Indian engineering firm Uttamenergy Ltd. and Global Heavy Equipment and Construction Corp., intends to construct the project at a four-hectare site in Capas, Tarlac.

“This facility is more than just a power plant; it is a transformative solution that aligns with our goals of environmental protection, energy security and sustainable urban development,” ATD Waste-to-Energy president and CEO Amando Diaz said.