NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in partnership with a Filipino-Indian consortium, is moving forward with the establishment of the country’s first large-scale waste-to-energy plant.
Aiming to transform waste into clean energy, the world-class facility will power thousands of households while generating employment opportunities for communities across Central Luzon.
BCDA and the consortium of ATD Waste to Energy Energy Corporation, Global Heavy Equipment and Construction Corporation, and India-based Uttamenergy Limited formalized their contract of lease for a four-hectare property in New Clark City on November 19.
This initiative represents a major step forward in promoting sustainable waste management and clean energy generation in the country.
With a total investment of P4 billion, the facility is designed to convert 600 metric tons of waste per day into 12 megawatts of electricity.
It presents an innovative solution to the persistent challenge of solid waste management while supplying locally sourced clean energy to more than 10,000 homes in Clark and nearby communities.
“This facility symbolizes a shift in mindset. It sends a powerful message: waste is not just garbage, it is a resource. A resource that, when managed responsibly and creatively, can power homes, fuel progress, and protect our planet,” consortium president Engineer Amando Diaz said.
Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo expressed support for the project, saying it will help the country meet its renewable energy mix targets under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023 to 2050.
He added that it will also strengthen the government’s waste management programs and flood-control initiatives.
“It’s not only for job generation in the region and power generation, but it is also about waste management. Yearly, our problem is flooding and waste is contributory to flooding. So, it is like hitting two birds with one stone, waste management, power generation and renewable energy,” he said.
BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang welcomed the project’s progress and noted the strong support from government agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He also highlighted the potential of the initiative to drive employment and promote sustainable growth in Central Luzon.
The project is expected to create around 300 jobs during the construction phase and employ about 100 workers once operational. It will likewise support downstream industries and stimulate economic activity across the region.
“This project demonstrates how sustainability can go hand in hand with progress. Through this facility, we seek to empower local communities by providing them with meaningful jobs while simultaneously fulfilling our commitment to environmental stewardship and clean energy generation,” Bingcang said.
Development of the waste-to-energy facility was initiated following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to India in August this year.
The project also aligns with New Clark City’s vision of becoming the country’s first smart, green, and future-ready metropolis designed to enhance the quality of life for Filipinos today and in the future. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)