President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday that the government’s waste-to-energy program could be implemented by 2027, as the Department of Energy (DOE) works to speed up the auction process for the projects.
Marcos made the statement in an interview after inspecting the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City. He said the DOE has already begun the bidding process for the program, which is meant to address the country’s waste problem while adding an alternative source of power.
“With our waste-to-energy program, the DOE is already starting to auction. So, nagbi-bid na sila sa waste-to-energy program,” Marcos said.
During the site visit, the President pointed to the recurring problem of garbage clogging drainage systems and pumping stations, particularly during heavy rains – an issue that has long affected flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.
Marcos said he expects waste-to-energy projects to be operational as early as next year, provided financing comes through.
“Medyo mabilis naman yan, at ‘yung waste-to-energy should be, as long as the financing is available, I think will be able to put those into action by next year,” he said.
The DOE said on Aug. 12 that around 400 megawatts (MW) of waste-to-energy capacity have been included in the Green Energy Auction program, with the auction set for Oct. 13. Proponents of winning projects are expected to reach mechanical completion by the end of 2028, with the power plants set to begin delivering electricity by the end of 2029.
DOE data show that Metro Manila alone generates around 9,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste daily, which could yield roughly 200 MW of power if converted through waste-to-energy facilities.
The program is part of the government’s broader push to manage solid waste more effectively, cut the volume of garbage reaching landfills and waterways, and diversify the country’s energy sources.
No timeline has yet been announced for how waste-to-energy capacity outside Metro Manila will be incorporated into the program, and the DOE has not released further details on the winning bidders or contract terms following the October auction.
