The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has expressed full support for the Bulacan Provincial Government’s plan to construct a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, pledging technical assistance in its planning, construction, operation, and long-term sustainability.

According to the DENR, the project is expected to provide a long-term solution to Bulacan’s solid waste management challenges, reduce the need for landfills, lower electricity costs through renewable energy generation, revitalize marine biodiversity, and create livelihood and job opportunities once operational.

Governor Daniel Fernando said the project was inspired by his official visit to Japan, where he toured a WTE facility operated by Phil. Ecology Systems Corporation (PHILECO) and Kanadevia Corporation.

He said the provincial government plans to replicate the model by entering a public-private partnership (PPP) with PHILECO to finance, design, build, and operate a similar facility in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

“The province cannot forever rely on the limited material recovery facilities, and shall not allow any kind of landfill,” Fernando said.

Once operational by 2028, the facility will have a 3,000-ton-per-day design capacity, capable of converting up to 90 percent of waste into electricity while limiting residual waste to only 10 percent for disposal or treatment.