By CESAR JOLITO III

The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) Inc. has formally challenged the inclusion of a waste-to-energy (WTE) component in Bacolod City’s proposed 10-year solid waste management plan, citing the absence of public consultation prior to the passage of a related ordinance.

In a statement submitted on Monday, March 2, at the Bacolod City Government Center, NICE said it recognizes the urgency of improving the city’s waste management system amid recurring flooding and rising garbage volumes.

However, the group stressed that long-term solutions — particularly those involving WTE — must be based on transparency, democratic participation, accountability, and sound science.

NICE said it had formally requested a public hearing on solid waste management as early as January 15, but no consultation was held before the ordinance recognizing the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Technology Hub, with WTE as its anchor component, was approved.

The group added that documents it requested on February 10 related to the project have yet to be disclosed.

“In this current state of environmental corruption, hazardous governance should not move faster than public participation,” said NICE Secretary General Joshua Villalobos, who called for the full disclosure of the proposed technology, feasibility studies and environmental and health safeguards.

The organization urged Mayor Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella, Councilors Homer Bais and Caesar Distrito, along with the Department of Energy and concerned city agencies, to hold a series of open public consultations.

NICE also questioned the city’s apparent prioritization of WTE over the full implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act, arguing that incineration-based technologies are often promoted as “thermal WTE” despite documented long-term environmental and health risks./CJ, WDJ