BACOLOD CITY – Construction of Cell No. 5 at the city’s sanitary landfill will address pressing waste disposal needs while serving as a critical foundation for Bacolod’s planned Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project. Mayor Greg Gasataya, during the ceremonial groundbreaking, January 29, 2026, stressed that the P66-million Cell No. 5 project will not only provide an immediate solution to the city’s growing waste problem but will also lay the groundwork for the Waste-to-Energy program being developed in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). “We should make a decisive undertaking to ensure an efficient solid waste management program,” Mayor Gasataya said. Councilor Homer Bais emphasized the infrastructure’s importance, noting it strengthens the city’s waste management efforts under the mayor’s leadership. Cell No. 5 is designed to have a landfill lifespan of up to three years. However, according to Mario Sandil, Operations Manager of International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists, the facility’s operational life may be extended once the waste-to-energy project becomes fully operational. “We are hoping that this will be the last landfill cell, as the city is now working on the Waste-to-Energy project that will eventually reduce our residual waste,” Mayor Gasataya added. The mayor recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with DOE Secretary Sharon Garin for the WTE initiative, which he called a “game-changer” for Bacolod’s solid waste management. Under the agreement, EMB will conduct the project’s feasibility study, while DOE will provide full technical support for successful implementation. The WTE project is expected to cut residual waste volumes, create economic opportunities, and boost the city’s environmental protection efforts. In line with the administration’s commitment to transparency, the City Engineer’s Office – in coordination with the Management Information Technology and Communications Services (MITCS) – launched a QR code system for infrastructure projects. City Engineer’s Office Officer-in-Charge Engr. Loben Ceballos demonstrated the system to local media, showing how it is attached to the Cell No. 5 project billboard. “All the facts pertaining to the project can be accessed through the QR system, and anyone can even provide comments,” Ceballos said. MITCS Officer-in-Charge Edrian Roel Robete added that project updates will be available via the QR link, which will later be posted on the city government’s official online platforms. Present at the ceremonies were EMB Regional Director Vicente Losbañes, Catherine Balasa, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer-in-Charge, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office Officer-in-Charge Atty. Allyn Luv Dignadice, key department heads, Barangay Felisa Punong Barangay Francisco Hilado, barangay council members, and other local village leaders. The initiative aligns with Executive Order No. 39, which establishes project transparency through standardized billboards with QR codes and an online progress monitoring system, outlining roles for the City Engineer’s Office and MITCS along with implementation guidelines. (Bacolod City Communications Office)