The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) has voiced strong opposition to the recent call by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the immediate passage of the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Bill. While the President has suggested that WTE technology could address waste management challenges and even play a role in flood control in the Philippines, IDIS argues that this claim is misleading and overlooks the deeper, systemic issues facing urban areas.
Waste Management Challenges and Urban Flooding
According to IDIS, urban centers in the Philippines are grappling with growing waste management issues fueled by rapid urbanization, population growth, and industrialization. While WTE facilities are promoted as a solution to these challenges, the organization believes that they introduce new environmental and legal risks, which must be carefully scrutinized.
President Marcos Jr.’s suggestion that WTE could mitigate flooding by converting plastic waste into energy fails to consider the complexity of urban flooding, IDIS emphasized. They pointed to other critical factors driving floods, including inadequate drainage, the loss of wetlands, and climate-related changes, such as more intense storms and rising sea levels.
“Plastic waste is only one component of the flooding problem,” IDIS said, adding that cities in Southeast Asia that already have WTE facilities, like Bangkok and Bekasi, continue to experience worsening flood conditions.
Public Health and Environmental Concerns
IDIS is particularly alarmed about the potential health risks associated with WTE incineration. The group warned that these facilities emit dangerous pollutants like dioxins and furans, which are known to cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Due to wind patterns, these pollutants can travel far beyond the immediate areas around WTE facilities, threatening public health across a wide region.
This, IDIS argues, runs counter to the constitutional right of Filipinos to live in a balanced and healthful environment.
Violation of Environmental Laws
Moreover, the environmental advocacy group highlighted that WTE technology contradicts key provisions in the Philippine Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003). These laws prioritize sustainable waste management practices, including recycling and waste reduction, over incineration-based solutions.
IDIS is calling for a holistic approach to both waste management and flood control. They argue that solutions must go beyond quick fixes like WTE and instead address core issues through improved waste segregation, enhanced drainage systems, sustainable urban planning, and community engagement.
A Call for Sustainable Solutions
Rather than investing in WTE projects, IDIS advocates for cities to implement integrated waste management strategies that promote recycling, enhance drainage infrastructure, and incorporate nature-based solutions like rainwater collection and green spaces to mitigate flooding.
IDIS concludes by urging the government to abandon short-term solutions like WTE and focus on long-term, sustainable approaches that prioritize both public health and environmental protection.
Background on IDIS
The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Davao City, Philippines. Established in 1999, IDIS is committed to promoting sustainable environmental practices and advocating for policies that prioritize ecological protection. The organization has a long history of working with local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to address environmental challenges, including watershed protection, urban planning, and sustainable waste management. Through its initiatives, IDIS aims to create environmentally resilient and sustainable urban and rural communities across the country.
