By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bacolod City government formally began the construction of Sanitary Landfill Cell No. 5 in Barangay Felisa, a move aimed at strengthening the city’s waste management capacity while it transitions toward long-term, sustainable solutions.
Mayor Greg Gasataya led the groundbreaking ceremony and announced that the project has been awarded to the city’s new garbage hauler, a joint venture composed of International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc. (I-SWIMS), D.C. Sandil Construction and Realty Development Inc. and San Igmedio Builders Inc.
The consortium has been given 300 calendar days, or nearly 10 months, to complete the project.
The city has allocated P66 million for the development of the two-hectare landfill cell, which is located adjacent to the existing Cell No. 4.
Gasataya said clearing operations are already underway, with the contractor expressing readiness to complete the facility ahead of schedule.
To address safety concerns, the mayor emphasized that I-SWIMS is also implementing precautionary measures in Cell No. 4 to prevent incidents similar to the landfill collapse previously reported in Cebu City.
He stressed that ensuring structural stability and environmental protection remains a top priority for the city.
Last landfill project
Despite the new construction, Gasataya said the city is hopeful that Cell No. 5 will be Bacolod’s last sanitary landfill project, as preparations are underway for alternative waste management solutions, including a waste-to-energy (WTE) initiative.
On January 26, 2026, the city government signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Energy to pursue WTE development.
The partnership supports the city’s broader push for energy efficiency in the public sector through the adoption of technologies such as LED lighting systems, inverter-type air-conditioning units, smart metering, solar photovoltaic installations, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
These initiatives are expected to reduce electricity and fuel consumption of government facilities by at least 10 percent, in line with the Government Energy Management Program and national energy efficiency targets.
Also present during the groundbreaking were Councilor Homer Bais, Environmental Management Bureau in the Negros Island Region officer-in-charge Vicente Losbañes, Department of the Interior and Local Government – Bacolod Head Christian Nagaynay, and several city department heads./CJ, WDJ