Position Paper: Proposed Legislative Measures on Waste-to-Energy

The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) submits this position paper to underscore the importance of aligning waste governance with existing laws as the Philippines confronts growing environmental and energy challenges. As the country advances its transition toward a low-carbon and more secure energy system, policy decisions must ensure that waste management reforms and energy strategies reinforce—rather than undermine—one another.

While waste-to-energy proposals are often presented as a solution to both waste disposal and energy supply concerns, this paper highlights key governance, financial, and environmental considerations that must guide policy decisions. It emphasizes that the ecological waste hierarchy established under Philippine law prioritizes waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and composting before any form of disposal or energy recovery. Strengthening enforcement of these systems, alongside the expansion of indigenous renewable energy sources, remains critical to achieving long-term energy security and environmental sustainability.