Davao City among potential winners in first national waste-to-energy auction
The Department of Energy listed the city government among nine qualified bidders for facilities that would turn municipal solid waste into electricity, though final approval is still pending.
The Davao City government has been identified by the Department of Energy (DOE) as one of the potential winning bidders in the country's first waste-to-energy (WTE) auction, according to SunStar.
The city is among nine qualified bidders with 12 proposed projects offering a combined 428 megawatts (MW) under the Special Green Energy Auction for Waste-to-Energy. The DOE said the electronic bidding on October 13 drew 12 submissions, all of which passed its evaluation of bid bonds, capacities, electricity prices and delivery schedules. All price offers came in below the approved reserve price, and the projects committed to start delivering power by December 31, 2029.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin described the auction as "an important step toward encouraging investments that can support electricity supply" while helping communities deal with waste.
Davao City's proposed plant would rise in Barangay Biao Escuela, Tugbok District, and is being pursued with the Japanese government under an existing agreement. Published project details say it is designed to process about 600 tons of waste a day and generate around 13 MW, with roughly 11 MW available to the grid after the plant's own use.
A project description filed with the Environmental Management Bureau in March 2026 estimated that the city produces 700 to 800 tons of municipal solid waste daily, straining disposal sites such as the New Carmen Sanitary Landfill in Tugbok. In September, the City Council approved on second reading a P685.3-million supplemental budget that included P65 million in a project reserve fund for the WTE development, including an initial P11-million bid.
The DOE stressed that inclusion in the Notice of Award is not final approval. Potential winners have 30 calendar days from the notice's posting to submit requirements, including a performance bond, a supply undertaking and grid impact study documents. Implementation will still depend on financing, reliable waste supply, permits, environmental compliance and grid connection.
The facility must also follow the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and DENR Administrative Order 2019-21, which sets guidelines for WTE plants. Because not all household waste can be used as fuel, segregation, recycling and proper collection remain essential, SunStar reported.
Why it matters for Davao
The project could ease pressure on the New Carmen Sanitary Landfill while adding power for Mindanao, but its success depends on residents' waste segregation and on the project clearing financing, permit and environmental requirements.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by SunStar. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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