Manila: The city government is intensifying its solid waste management strategies by acquiring a PHP3.8 million electric mini-sweeper truck and planning to open a new waste processing facility next year. Iloilo City General Services Office head Neil Ravena announced the deployment of the electric sweeper to clean streets and public spaces, including Sunburst Park, Sunset Boulevard, the Esplanade, and various parks and plazas.
According to Philippines News Agency, the equipment boasts a storage capacity of 1.6 tons and is designed to vacuum solid waste from narrow or linear spaces. Ravena emphasized the importance of this acquisition, stating, "This is a big help. This will ensure the cleanliness of our streets at the same time in public parks and plazas because it vacuums the solid waste." The sweeper is expected to prevent solid waste from entering drainage systems, which could obstruct water flow during heavy rain.
The funding for the equipment came from the city's share of hosting the Panay Energy Development Corp. Discussions are underway between Ravena and Mayor Raisa Tre±as regarding the acquisition of another mini-sweeper, coinciding with the planned opening of an additional Esplanade along Dungon Creek from Jaro Market to the Nabitasan area.
Meanwhile, the city's Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF) in Barangay Ingore, La Paz District, is set to commence commissioning in March 2027. The PHP3.8 billion public-private partnership project with MetPower Venture Partner Holdings, Inc. is being developed on a three-hectare site, with the capacity to process 475 tons of waste daily. Site development is currently 30 percent to 40 percent complete, and the city is awaiting the delivery of prefabricated facilities.
Ravena noted that the facility will begin accepting waste next year, although it will still be in the commissioning phase. This phase, expected to last three to four months, involves testing and laboratory analysis of waste-processing samples to ensure compliance with environmental standards and obtain a permit to operate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The operation of the new facility will enable the closure of the city's sanitary landfill in Barangay Calahunan. Ravena mentioned that the city has completed a closure plan for submission to the DENR, which will allow for bioremediation and rehabilitation of the site. The Calahunan dump site spans 23 hectares, with garbage accumulating up to 10 meters high on 10 hectares, though only 3.3 hectares is officially classified as a sanitary landfill.
