Environment Groups Expose Lack of Transparency, Cite Health and Climate Risks of WtE Project

ILOILO CITY — April 1, 2025 – A proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant in Iloilo, a province in the Philippines, located in the southeastern part of Panay Island, has sparked fierce opposition from a coalition of environmental groups, who warn that the project could do more harm than good.

The newly-formed group, the “Green-Empowered Movement”, is calling on the local government to come clean about the project’s environmental and health risks, decrying the lack of transparency surrounding its approval process.

Despite mounting concerns, city officials have failed to disclose critical information about the Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF) and its WTE component. The coalition, composed of Green Forum Panay-Guimaras, ILIG Batiano, Greenpeace Iloilo Volunteers, People Against False Solutions, Green EcoWarriors, and Youth Voices Count, Inc., issued a strong statement at today’s Multi-sectoral Environmental Forum and Press Conference at the UP Visayas Little Theater, demanding full transparency and public accountability.

In an open letter addressed to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, the group underscored that since  March 2024, when reports surfaced that the Iloilo City government had signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) with Metro Pacific Water Investments Corp for the WtE plant,  requests for project details have been met with silence.

“We REITERATE our call to the Iloilo City Government for absolute transparency on the ISWMF/WtE project and the health and environmental harms of waste incineration.  The city must inform Ilonggos how they decided on such hazardous technology, whether people have been told the risks, and what the city’s plan is to protect the community from health impacts and pollution of waste-to-energy. The city should stop promoting false solutions and make decisions that protect people.” – Romela Gianan, Greenpeace Iloilo Volunteers Coordinator.

The coalition criticized the city government’s February 2025 public consultation, arguing that such discussions should have taken place before signing agreements. According to the 2023 guidelines set by the National Development and Economic Authority, stakeholders must be informed of the key terms of a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) within seven days of negotiation. This did not happen, instead, residents were left in the dark until the consultation, where many voiced their strong opposition.

Further highlighting the transparency issue, Barangay Ingore officials revealed in June 2024 that they were unaware of the WtE project when coalition members visited the site. That same month, the city government was invited to discuss the project at a public forum organized by civil society organizations. Despite confirming attendance, city officials failed to appear, missing a critical opportunity to address public concerns.

“Elected leaders should prioritize the safety of their communities. We want a future – a healthy future for all. Let’s not be greenwashed. A bane is a bane. Let’s protect our communities and the next generations to come.” – Kyla Balibagoso, Lead Convenor of Green EcoWarriors.

The ISWMF will be built next to an existing coal plant and will house facilities for anaerobic digestion, refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing, desalination, and materials recovery. The coalition’s primary concern is the WtE plant and the RDF, which essentially repackages waste as fuel. Both processes emit harmful air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and toxic by-products like ash, which even advanced filtration technologies cannot fully contain. Ash disposal has already been a longstanding environmental issue for Iloilo communities, and the proposed WtE facility will only worsen the issue.

If these facilities proceed, the coalition warns of severe environmental and health consequences. According to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, respiratory tract infections are among the leading health concerns in the city. The proximity of WtE plants and RDF co-processing in coal plants can heighten these risks, increasing the likelihood of respiratory illnesses, cancers, and other health complications. Additionally, the ISWMF’s location, less than 50 meters from residential areas, raises concerns about the forced displacement of residents to accommodate the daily transport of waste.

“With Iloilo City considered as among the walkable and progressive cities in the country, these projects defeat the purpose of truly achieving a “green” city. A true green city is one where communities are not only protected but also its resources; this ensures long – term sustainability at the core of true “development”, and not just “industrialization” with no nature-based solutions.” – Queenie Agdalipe, Coordinator of People Against False Solutions.

“Climate change affects everyone, but its impacts are not equally distributed, with marginalized groups often bearing the brunt. We, the youth of Iloilo City, support efforts to build a greener city while urging the local government to ensure an equitable climate justice response that includes and uplifts diverse voices, especially young people of varying SOGIESC. A truly green city must embrace and recognize all the colors of the rainbow.” – Toni Lopez, Executive Director of Youth Voices Count.

Beyond environmental and health risks, the coalition fears that Iloilo’s vision of becoming a model green city and a champion of good governance is at stake. By sidelining public participation, transparency, and accountability, the city government is undermining its people and aspirations.

“There is a need to highlight a green environmental agenda in the coming local elections to elect officials who will stand for the people’s welfare and sustainable development.” – Melvin Purzuelo, Executive Director of Green Forum.

A Call for Sustainable Waste Solutions

The Green-Empowered Movement argues that WtE incineration and RDF co-processing are dangerous distractions to real solutions. Instead of addressing waste at its source, these perpetuate harmful wasteful production and consumption patterns. The coalition emphasizes that real climate action should focus on waste prevention, sustainable product design, and zero-waste systems that empower communities and waste workers.

“Real-world evidence of the failures of WtE incineration and RDF co-processing must not be ignored. Ilonggos do not deserve false solutions that are imposed on them like the pollution-heavy Panay coal plant which seeks to benefit from the current ISWMF proposal by using RDF as feedstock. We are confident that Iloilo City will not be blinded by false promises and will ultimately choose a zero-waste path that is just, inclusive, and addresses the root causes of waste through reduction, reuse, and safe recycling. But first, the city government must readily disclose all information about the project, including environmental and social impact assessments, terms of the joint venture agreement, and other pertinent documents.” Brex Arevalo, Climate and Anti-Incineration Campaigner, GAIA Asia Pacific.

“The issue of waste management is a rather broad field, which might be motivating many, but it’s also an area that must be met with responsible management and science-based solutions because of its impacts. A lot of data on  WtE incineration having risk hazards, which stays for years, are already out there. The reason for the shut-down of these facilities in the Global North — notably in 2023, were French health authorities raised concerns about chicken egg contamination near WtE incinerators in Paris, specifically due to elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and PFAS — is a testimony of the adverse health and environmental risks that comes with them. With Asia being its new market, environmental organizations must be at the forefront of putting a stop to this while ensuring knowledge management and information dissemination among communities, especially stakeholders involved. “ Queenie Agdalipe, Coordinator of People Against False Solutions: an EcoWaste Coalition Movement for Iloilo.

“Cities need real solutions that address the waste problem at the source with measures to reduce waste generation and cut plastic production and use. What they don’t need is yet another problem in the form of incineration or WtE – harmful processes that produce pollution and health threats. Instead of compromising the safety of citizens, the Iloilo City government and other LGUs must enact single-use plastic bans and mandate the adoption of reuse systems. Ilonggos and all Filipinos deserve safe and just solutions that put people and the planet first.” Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner, Greenpeace Philippines.

 

About GAIA:

GAIA is a network of grassroots groups as well as national and regional alliances representing more than 1000 organizations from 92 countries. With our work, we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, Zero- Waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. www.no-burn.org