• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A resolution expressing support for sustainable waste-to-energy initiatives and calling for the adoption of science-based environmental policies in the City of Bacolod amid rising air pollution and the climate crisis, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.
Authored by Councilor Em Eng, the resolution said Bacolod City continues to face mounting challenges regarding solid waste management, with the volume of municipal waste continuously straining the capacity of existing sanitary landfills, making traditional disposal methods increasingly unsustainable for a highly urbanized city.
The global climate crisis and localized reports of increasing air pollution demand immediate, data-driven interventions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane released from decomposing waste in traditional dumpsites and landfills, it said.
Modern, sustainable waste-to-energy technologies are a dual solution by significantly reducing the volume of solid waste requiring disposal while simultaneously generating localized alternatives for the city, the resolution said.
The transition to advanced waste management systems must be strictly anchored in empirical scientific data, environmental impact assessments, and global best practices, it said.
Any exploration of waste-to-energy facilities must guarantee strict compliance with the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 or the Republic Act 8749 and the Ecological Solid Waste Manager Act of 2000 or R.A. No..9003 to ensure that such initiatives do not exacerbate existing air quality issues or compromise public health, the resolution said.
The resolution also urged the Office of the City Mayor and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) to prioritize peer-reviewed scientific data, independent air quality monitoring, and comprehensive life-cycle assessments when evaluating and approving any waste-to-energy proposals or technologies.*
