The City Government and the Department of Finance inked a memorandum of agreement that grants 5.13 billion Japanese yen, or P2.38B, for the construction of the waste-to-energy (WTE) facility project in the city.City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag told reporters yesterday that the WTE is already a “go project” that will commence its construction on the fourth quarter this year and is set to be completed within three to four years.
“We already approved the agreement between the city of Davao and the Department of Finance that represents the national government in the financial side of this project. It will be funded by the national government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with a grant from the Japanese Government,” Al-ag said.
The vice mayor said that they are ready with the project especially that the lot for the WTE facility has been recently acquired.
“We just bought the property at P40 Million for the 10-hectare property in Barangay Biao Escuela in Tugbok District,” he said.
Meanwhile, Al-ag noted that while there are environmental groups who express strong opposition to the said project, they will pursue its construction as they are within the legal bounds.
“As long as the project will not violate the solid waste management act, as long as it is within the bounds of the clean air act, then we do not have a problem. What is important is that what we are bound by legal provisions,” he said.
Mayor Sara Duterte, known for her support for environmental advocacies, also nodded to the project, Al-ag reported.
“Based on our meetings, she agreed with this project and she supports this. The executive department has a technical team for this and their recommendation is a go,” Al-ag said.
Al-ag also expressed his gratitude to Kitakyushu City, the partner city in Japan, that will assist the transfer of technology here.
“It is in partnership with the Kitakyushu, Japan, our sister city that also has this facility. We are just a beneficiary of this national project. Our counterpart is the just the land,” he said.
