President Marcos said the government must give serious consideration to adopting modern waste-to-energy technologies, starting in Metro Manila, to address the worsening garbage and flooding problems in the capital region.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, President Marcos said waste-to-energy has emerged as a key legislative and environmental priority due to the country’s growing solid waste crisis and the limitations of existing landfill systems.

“In our consultation with the legislature, the Waste-to-Energy Bill is one of the priorities because I think the technology has become so advanced that we can now adopt many waste-to-energy technologies that are being used around the world,” he said.

Marcos said the initiative will focus first on the National Capital Region (NCR), where overflowing landfills and clogged drainage systems have worsened flooding and sanitation concerns.

“I think everyone will agree that the garbage problem in NCR needs a solution. Landfills just don't do it anymore,” Marcos said.

“They (The garbage) clog the esteros, they clog the pumps,” he added.

The President noted that many communities hosting landfill sites have already refused to accept waste from other cities, underscoring the urgency of long-term solutions.

“Another problem that comes from that is that landfills are full, and the communities that used to take the garbage don’t want to do it anymore,” he said.

“There’s a serious environmental problem. So, we really have to take a very serious look at waste-to-energy,” he added.

On June 30, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso declared a garbage crisis in the city, citing alleged issues with payment for waste collectors. In his report for his 100th day in office, Domagoso said the garbage issue was resolved within just two weeks.

In August, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) advised the Manila government to redirect the city’s waste to the New San Mateo Sanitary Landfill in Rizal, following the permanent closure of the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, where many cities in NCR previously disposed of their waste. However, San Mateo, Rizal Mayor Bartolome Rivera Jr. opposed this and said they were not consulted nor given prior notice about this move.

President Marcos earlier said the government is eyeing a waste-to-energy pilot project in Manila to demonstrate the viability of the approach before replicating it in other flood-prone urban areas.

“We have a proposal for a waste-to-energy solution in the City of Manila. I think that will go on, but that’s only for Manila,” he said in August.

According to Marcos, the project could later be expanded to other parts of Metro Manila and major cities nationwide once proven effective.

“Pag yung basura naman ay natapon, nabara ’yung bomba, nabara ’yung estero, nabara lahat... wala rin silbi ’yung pumping station (If the garbage clogs the pumps and the creeks, the pumping stations are rendered useless),” he said.

“It simply doesn’t work until we have a solution to the garbage problem,” he added.

The Waste-to-Energy Bill is among the 44 priority measures under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) of the 20th Congress, as discussed during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Sept. 30.

The measure aims to promote the use of waste-to-energy technologies that convert solid waste into electricity, heat, or fuel, while ensuring environmental safeguards and compliance with emission standards.