Iloilo City: The Sangguniang Panlungsod has officially sanctioned an updated 10-year Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Plan, covering the years 2017 to 2026. This strategic move is aimed at facilitating the city’s transition to an integrated solid waste management facility as the local sanitary landfill approaches its closure date in 2026.

According to Philippines News Agency, Engineer Neil Ravena, the chief of the General Services Office (GSO), emphasized the pressing need to adopt this updated plan. The necessity arises from the requirement for a new waste facility as the current landfill’s operational lifespan concludes. Ravena noted, “We will be closing the sanitary landfill for 2026 since that’s the lifespan of our landfill. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be monitoring that there should be a closure of our sanitary landfill. So, all permits and conditions defined under environmental conditions given by DENR will end in 2026.”

The newly approved plan is crucial for Iloilo City to obtain the required permits for constructing the integrated solid waste management facility in Barangay Ingore. This facility is set to include a substantial material recovery center capable of processing waste, alongside a waste-to-energy component that will convert organic waste into energy.

The GSO chief mentioned that all necessary requests for permits, as well as the environmental compliance certificate, are presently awaiting approval at the DENR central office. He added, “Right after the approval of those, we will still have 18 months to construct the facility that will accept the 400 tons per day waste of Iloilo City.”

In a subsequent discussion, Ravena highlighted the pending submission of the safe closure plan for the existing sanitary landfill. Additionally, there is a need to establish a drainage system for leachate and soil cover to ensure the permanent closure of the facility in Barangay Calahunan.