On February 11, 2020, the Senate Committees on Energy and Local Government deliberated upon the economic provisions of the proposed Senate Bill Nos. 363, 401, and 1101. The meeting was called to order at 9:17 AM, with 28 resource speakers in attendance. Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sen. Win Gatchalian first gave a brief recap from the last Joint Public Hearing, making points on the total number of barangays that do not segregate their solid waste. He also pointed out the total number of open dumpsites in the country and the logistical and financial constraints as to why Local Government Units (LGUs) are having a hard time operating sanitary landfills.
National Economic Development Authority Assistant Secretary Roderick M. Planta was the first resource speaker to present their study on Feasibility Study of Appropriate Waste-To-Energy Technologies in the Manila Bay Region Covering 178 LGUs. He presented the findings of their study, most of which are about the financial viability and capacity of the LGUs in the Manila Bay Region should they decide to operate a Waste-To-Energy Plant. Department of Environment and Natural Resources was also present in the Public Hearing, often exchanging ideas with Chairman Gatchalian & Asec. Planta.
There were also representatives from the Department of Health and the University of the Philippines College of Public Health. Both institutions affirmed their support for the further development of WTE technology in the country. However, they have asked the Chair for the stringent monitoring & regulation of WTE technology, as well as the imperative role of the DENR’s capacity to employ more manpower for the monitoring of such technology, and soon enough, capacity building for LGUs to operate their WTE Plants.
Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Solutions Inc. was again given the opportunity to attend the said hearing, with Mr. Rafael Javier Eubra (President and CEO), Mr. Thomas Kwok (Managing Director – COO), and Mr. Amos Lim (Managing Director – CFO), of APRES speaking on behalf of the company. Mr. Kwok delighted the Committee on the economic concerns foreseen by the trends in WTE Plants abroad. After the hearing, the executive board of APRES also spoke privately with Sen. Gatchalian regarding the future of WTE Technology. They also expressed their appreciation to Sen. Gatchalian for a very fruitful discussion.
Sen. Gatchalian dismissed the hearing at around 11:45 in the morning.
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