The Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) and EcoWaste Coalition have expressed opposition to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s plan to put up an incinerator waste-to-energy (WTE) facility.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Jan. 19, Atty. Kristine Joy Argallon of the Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said the facilities would harm the environment, and likewise aggravate public health and ecological crisis caused by climate change.
“Cebu City’s strategy on climate and post-disaster resilience should be based on ecological and sustainable principles. We urge Mayor Rama to rethink and scrap his plan of putting up a WTE facility in the city and consider instead investing in renewable energy sources,” Argallon said.
Atty. Lievj Alimangohan, of EcoWaste Coalition, said the move by the City government will end up with a heavy financial burden by entering into a contract with the provider of the WTE facility.
“Typical WTE contracts have decades-long terms and contain lock-in provisions that will bind the city to expensive and onerous obligations for a long time. This is an unnecessary expenditure of public funds on a system that is dangerous to public health and the environment,” he said.
Alimangohan also said that the city’s strategy should be focused on waste reduction, materials recovery, and recycling.
“We hope Mayor Rama and the Cebu City Council will scrap the waste-to-energy plans for the city and reconsider their approach to waste management,” Alimangohan said.