BACOLOD CITY — Yudai Ueno, Consul General of Japan, commended the City Government of Bacolod for being among the pioneering local government units that have expressed interest with the Department of Energy (DOE) in pursuing Waste-to-Energy (WTE) initiatives.

During his courtesy visit to Mayor Greg Gasataya, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the Consul General conveyed Japan’s continued interest in expanding cooperation with Bacolod City in key areas such as sustainable energy, water treatment, and infrastructure development. These efforts form part of the ongoing Japan Friendship Year engagements.

Mayor Gasataya reaffirmed Bacolod’s commitment to the program.

“We are among the pilot cities that have signified to the Department of Energy our willingness to pursue Waste-to-Energy initiatives,”

he said. Consul General Ueno expressed readiness to facilitate technical discussions with Japanese partners to support Bacolod’s transition to WTE.

“We have advanced technology. In Tokyo, for example, we operate WTE facilities even in residential areas with no hazardous emissions,” Ueno said.

Mayor Gasataya welcomed the proposal, underscoring the importance of WTE in addressing the city’s solid waste management challenges. “We would certainly welcome this initiative, as WTE is the way forward. It is especially important in addressing our solid waste management concerns,” the mayor added.

The discussion also covered potential cooperation in water treatment and sewage development—areas in which Japan has extensive experience through its development assistance programs. The Consul General also cited possible coordination with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan’s official development assistance arm, which provides technical cooperation, loans, and grants to support economic and social development in partner countries.

“I think it’s high time that we revive our relationship with JICA. The agency has supported Bacolod since the 1980s through various projects, feasibility studies, and research initiatives,” Mayor Gasataya said. Both sides expressed optimism in strengthening cooperation between Japan and Bacolod City. Mayor Gasataya is expected to pursue further discussions with Japanese partners and JICA for potential future collaborations.