MANILA, Philippines — The government is accelerating its waste-to-energy (WTE) program as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. renews his push to transform the country’s growing volume of residual waste into electricity while reducing pressure on landfills and waterways.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said it is moving the WTE program from policy toward actual project implementation, with a 400-megawatt (MW) installation target now being pursued under the government’s Green Energy Auction Program.
The move comes as Metro Manila and other urban areas continue to struggle with mounting garbage, clogged waterways and limited landfill capacity—issues that have become more visible following recent heavy rains and flooding.
DOE sets 400-MW WTE auction for October
The DOE has resumed preparations for its Special Auction Round for Waste-to-Energy, increasing the previous installation target from 230 MW to 400 MW in an effort to attract more private-sector investment.
The auction proper is scheduled for October 13, 2026.
Under the current timeline, successful projects are expected to reach mechanical completion by the end of 2028, with electricity delivery to the national grid targeted by the end of 2029.
That means the government’s latest announcement is not an indication that hundreds of megawatts of WTE power will immediately come online. The 400 MW figure represents the capacity being targeted through the upcoming auction and still depends on qualified projects successfully completing development, construction, permitting and grid-connection requirements.
From garbage problem to energy source
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the administration wants residual waste that can no longer be reused or recycled to be handled through appropriate technologies rather than simply being sent to landfills or waterways.
The DOE said WTE can potentially serve two purposes: waste management and electricity generation.
Under the government’s WTE policy framework, acceptable municipal solid waste—including certain residual waste streams—may be converted into electricity, subject to environmental and regulatory requirements.
The framework also requires WTE projects to comply with major environmental laws, including the Philippine Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and existing DENR rules governing WTE facilities.
Why Marcos is pushing the plan now
The renewed push gained urgency after Marcos inspected garbage-clearing operations in Parañaque following heavy rains that left large amounts of waste in waterways.
The President said the government was examining potential WTE locations so that local governments could bring collected waste to nearby facilities instead of hauling it long distances to increasingly pressured landfills.
He also linked the garbage problem to flooding, pointing out that trash can enter drainage and pumping systems and interfere with their operation.
In one major clearing operation at the Baclaran River and Redemptorist Water Channel, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported hauling approximately 45 dump-truck loads, equivalent to about 750 cubic meters or 500 tons of waste, highlighting the scale of the problem.
But environmental groups are pushing back
The government’s WTE proposal is not without controversy.
Environmental and community groups have challenged the idea of presenting waste-to-energy as a solution to Metro Manila’s flooding problems. The Manila Anti-Incinerator Alliance and other advocates argued that flooding is fundamentally tied to drainage, land use, waterways, environmental protection and flood-control infrastructure.
They warned that burning waste should not substitute for better waste segregation, recycling, collection and flood-control systems.
That criticism is significant because WTE facilities—particularly thermal combustion plants—must operate under strict emissions and environmental controls.
The DOE’s own framework recognizes these requirements, explicitly requiring WTE facilities to comply with environmental laws and DENR regulations.
A bigger energy plan is taking shape
The WTE push is also part of a broader government effort to integrate new energy sources into the Philippine power mix.
The DOE’s existing framework describes WTE as a potential source of stable, locally available electricity while also reducing dependence on sanitary landfills. It provides a policy structure for integrating WTE projects into the country’s power system and establishing mechanisms for electricity offtake.
The government is therefore attempting to solve two problems at once: what to do with waste that cannot be economically recycled or reused, and how to add additional electricity supply to the grid.
But the real test will come after the auction.
Developers will still have to secure permits, establish reliable waste-feedstock supplies, satisfy environmental requirements, connect projects to the grid and meet construction deadlines before the proposed capacity can become actual electricity.
The number to watch: 400 MW
The jump from a 230-MW target to 400 MW signals a much more aggressive WTE strategy from the administration.
But whether that target translates into functioning plants will depend on how many projects qualify, how competitive the auction is, whether developers can secure sufficient waste supplies and how communities and environmental regulators respond.
For now, the Philippines is not yet looking at a completed 400-MW WTE fleet.
It is looking at the next—and potentially decisive—stage of getting one built.
The auction is scheduled for October 13, 2026.
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