ILOILO CITY—The long-awaited Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility will finally break ground on April 4, 2025 in Barangay Ingore, marking a major step in Iloilo City’s efforts to combat waste and promote sustainability.
Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed the development, highlighting the project as a joint venture between the Iloilo City Government and Iloilo Waste Recovery Joint Venture Corporation (IWRJVC).
The facility will use cutting-edge waste processing technology to generate power and solid fuel without burning waste, utilizing anaerobic digestion to minimize environmental impact.
According to Engr. Neil Ravena, head of the General Services Office, the new facility will not be a landfill or dump site but a closed processing plant designed to convert waste into energy.
“The facility will process waste instead of dumping it. The energy generated will power the desalination plant, which will produce potable water for Iloilo City,” Ravena explained.
The facility will accommodate 400 tons of garbage daily with a maximum processing capacity of 460 tons. It will also include a material recovery facility to sort non-biodegradable waste such as ceramics, stones, and glass, improving recycling efficiency.
The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2026, coinciding with the planned closure of the Calahunan sanitary landfill.
The 23-hectare Calahunan dumpsite currently has a 10-meter-high garbage pile on 10 hectares, while only 3.3 hectares function as a sanitary landfill.
Ravena stated that once the dumpsite is closed, the city will restore the area to its original state and implement beautification projects.
“We will conduct a feasibility study and closure plan to properly manage the transition,” he added.