BACOOR CITY, Cavite (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) pledged its support to Bacoor City’s proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility, a core initiative aimed at addressing its solid waste challenges. 

Last October 21, DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna assured the city government that the DENR will provide the much-needed technical assistance to ensure that the project will meet environmental standards. 

Cuna also advised the city government to consult with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to determine the most viable and safe technology for the facility. 

“May capability na naman tayo sa DENR Central Office para ma-check ‘yung dioxins. Pero ang suggestion ko, kausapin ninyo ang DOST para masigurong puwede ang technology dito, and of course the DOE regarding the power aspect [of the project].” 

Mayor Strike Revilla said that the city has long pursued a WTE facility as a sustainable solid waste management solution.

“From the start, basura na talaga ang problema namin. Kaya simula pa lang, naghahanap na ako ng puwedeng waste-to-energy [facility]. Gusto namin na maresolbahan na may pakinabang pa tayo na protektado ang ating environment.” 

“Sa tingin ko ay puwede itong pag-aralan ng national agencies. At kung maaprubahan n’yo kami, willing kaming i-push ito. Dapat talaga ay mayroong magawa kami sa LGU, talagang mag-i-invest kami dito.” 

In a statement, the city government underscored that the WTE project has been a top priority as a solution to a nearly two-decade old public health and environmental protection challenge for the city.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that Bacoor City is Cavite’s most densely populated city in the entire province with 661,381 residents—the second-highest population in the entire province. (PB-PIA CALABARZON, with reports from City Government of Bacoor)