By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The government is moving to turn the Philippines’ mounting garbage problem into a potential source of electricity, with the Department of Energy (DOE) pushing ahead with a 400-megawatt waste-to-energy (WTE) program.
The initiative comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. calls for a more integrated response to the country’s worsening waste problem, particularly the tons of residual garbage that end up in landfills, waterways and other disposal sites.
The DOE said the 400-MW capacity has been included in the Green Energy Auction program, with the special auction scheduled for October 13, 2026.
Winning proponents are expected to reach mechanical completion by the end of 2028, with the facilities targeted to begin delivering electricity to the grid by the end of 2029.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said waste that can no longer be reused or recycled should not simply be dumped or buried when it can, under strict environmental safeguards, be converted into useful energy.
The scale of Metro Manila’s garbage problem illustrates the potential.
The DOE estimates that the capital region generates around 9,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste every day—a massive volume that could potentially generate about 200 MW of electricity.
But the government stressed that WTE is not a license to burn or process all garbage indiscriminately.
Waste reduction, segregation, reuse, recycling and material recovery must remain at the heart of the country’s solid-waste management system.
Only acceptable residual waste should be used as feedstock for WTE facilities.
The DOE said its challenge now is to move the program from policy to actual implementation while ensuring that proposed facilities meet environmental, technical and operational requirements.
The government’s energy strategy is also looking beyond garbage.
The DOE reported continuing progress in the country’s nuclear energy program, including regulatory preparation, international cooperation, site assessment, financing groundwork and public acceptance.
President Marcos highlighted nuclear power during his fifth State of the Nation Address as a potential component of the country’s future energy mix and a possible means of strengthening electricity supply and helping bring down power costs.
DOE Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the country must build the institutions, regulatory framework, technical expertise, financing mechanisms and public confidence needed before committing to nuclear generation.
The Philippines has completed Phase 1 of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestones Approach and is preparing for Phase 2, which focuses on developing the infrastructure needed to attract investors and establish financing pathways.
The government has also completed a feasibility study for the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, with Palawan, Masbate, Pangasinan and Camarines Norte among other areas being considered for possible nuclear facilities.
The emerging DOE strategy points to a broader shift: the Philippines is no longer looking at garbage and energy as completely separate problems.
The country needs cleaner communities, more reliable electricity and less dependence on limited disposal capacity.
Waste-to-energy could address part of the first two—provided environmental safeguards are strictly enforced and recycling remains the priority.
And nuclear power, if eventually pursued, could provide another potential pillar of long-term energy security.
The direction is ambitious:
Turn residual waste into electricity, develop nuclear capability, and build an energy system capable of supporting a growing Philippines.
But the real test will not be the announcements.
It will be whether these projects actually move from policy papers to power plants—and whether the government can deliver energy without creating a new environmental problem in the process.
ia/xf
