FAILURE TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING: Council questions WTE project proponent

CEBU, Philippines — The proponent of the Waste to Energy (WTE) project that aims to help address both garbage and energy problems in Cebu City had to answer questions by members of the Cebu City Council after it failed to conduct a public hearing in Barangay Guba prior the acquisition of the lot that will be used for the project.

During an executive session of the City Council yesterday, the proponent of the WTE, New Sky Energy Philippines, presented the progress and the timetable given the 730-day extension that it asked for from the Cebu City government.

Accordingly, they are now halfway through these processes, and right after the extension, they ensured that the construction of the project would begin.

The remaining 365 days, according to Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the committee on environment, will be focused on obtaining the necessary documents and permits to begin the construction.

Previously, Garganera said they have already identified the location for the project. During the discussion, it was revealed to be in Barangay Guba, Cebu City which land of around 6.9 hectares has already been acquired.

But Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, who is a resident of Barangay Guba herself, questioned why Sky New failed to conduct a public hearing prior to the acquisition of the lot.

“You did not comply with the public hearing in Barangay Guba?,” Delos Santos asked Attorney Raizaley Ligaray, head legal of New Sky to which she answered: “Not yet, but we will.”

When asked for their reason, Ligaray said they wanted to be certain with the project site adding that it is difficult to find an area in the city that can meet the requirements of the project.

Delos Santos stressed though that it is necessary to conduct a public hearing first before acquiring the lot.

“You are supposed to comply with the public hearing first, that is very basic. My point is, you bought the land already dedicated for the WTE but you did not conduct the public hearing. Question, pananglit ang mga residente sa Guba dili musugot nga naay Waste to Energy sa ilang barangay? Unsa may mahitabo ana?,” said Delos Santos.

Ligaray, however, highlighted that the project will bring opportunities to the barangay, such as jobs, and she clarified that it will not have a negative environmental impact like pollution. She further said it is not a “bad project.”

For his part, Garganera said they are confident with the project saying that it is environmentally-compliant.

He added that Barangay Guba is aware of the project, adding that the barangay council and the members of the Solid Waste Management Board were with them during the survey.

But Delos Santos stressed that she is just sticking to the basic principle and said that the families should always come first.

“The bottom line is, do the public hearing first,” said Delos Santos. “Because what if the sentiment of the people is against the public hearing? What will happen,” she added.

The WTE project could produce a standard of 208 kilowatts per garbage ton. For 500 tons of garbage, it will produce up to 140,000 kilowatts. Yesterday it was also discussed that the Cebu City government will receive 3 percent of the gross power sales revenues once the project commences.

During the presentation yesterday, New Sky committed at least P4.8 billion in investments including the land acquisition.

It was last Sept. 22, 2022, that Mayor Michael Rama, representing the city, signed a Joint Venture agreement (JVA) with a Notice to Award to New Sky for the construction of the WTE facility.

In a Sept. 29, 2023 letter, Ligaray requested the City to grant it an extension before starting construction.

Ligaray cited “unanticipated complexities in the pre-construction stage that necessitate a recalibration of their original timelines.” —/ATO (FREEMAN)