The resolution authored by Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo of the city’s First District has asked President Marcos to give for a P3.486 billion Philippine National Government counterpart budget to help build the said project.
Ocampo in his resolution said that the current state of the city’s sanitary landfill, which is almost filled to the brim, and the exponential growth volume of its solid waste, necessitate the adoption and application of existing technologies that address said waste management.
“One such proven and efficient technology currently adopted and utilized worldwide is waste-to-energy (WTE) which not only significantly reduces the volume of waste being dumped in a sanitary landfill, but also contributes and provides one of the most important resources , energy,” the resolution read.
In 2015, Davao City , in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , conducted a feasibility study which confirmed the viability of the establishment and operation of a WTE facility in the city , subject to certain conditions.
The Japan government opened opportunities for the Republic of the Philippines to avail of technical and financial assistance to further aid in its development and employing sustainable ways of managing solid waste, and for this purpose in the year 2018, the Japanese Government provided a grant assistance, or a donation, amounting to ¥5,013,000,000.00 to partially full the project for the construction of WTE facilities here.
According to Ocampo, chair of the committee on environment and a neophyte lawmaker said, Davao City aspires to take the opportunity of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries as well as the grant/ donation that remains to be available for said project.
He said it continuously pursued the same and actively participated in the conduct of a more in-depth feasibility study for the implementation of said project, which study was prepared for the Philippine’s Department of Finance, and was concluded last February 2020.
Ocampo emphasized that the city aims for full compliance with the ecological solid waste management act or Republic Act 9003 in which the reduction of waste disposal is the primary objective.
Acting City Administrator , Lawyer Francis Mark Layog in his letter addressed to Vice-Mayor lawyer Melchor Quitain Jr. dated August 22, underscored the urgency and necessity of said resolution to be passed under suspended rules during Tuesday’s session.
He said the project is part of the city’s priority policies and projects.
“Further, the WTE project is urgent in light of the finalization of the preparations for the 2023 national budget and it is necessary to ensure that the funds are available to implement the project,” Layog said.