THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) assured the public that they will give a closer look at waste-to-energy (WTE) plants proposals to check on whether these have adverse effects on the environment.
During the Mindanao-Wide Technology Transfer Day on December 13 at the SMX Convention, DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said that the WTE is not banned in the Philippines but they will take a closer check on the proposal presented by the different countries aid claims that these are highly pollutive.
The Davao City Council is already deliberating quite a number of proposals most of which came from Germany and Japan.
The DOST agrees that they would need technical opinion in the implementation of this plant. They would also check the plants’ track record provided by the proposing countries.
Dela Peña emphasized that the DOST will accept only those plants that conform to the requirements needed.
Jorge Emmanuel, former UN Chief – Technical Advisor on Environmental Concerns, said that a WTE plant would need another landfill to be allocated especially for the plant itself. Of which dela Peña agrees saying that should these WTE proposals be pushed through, a separate sanitary landfill will be provided.
He also said that the DOST will continue to research on and provide the right kind technology which best serves whatever purpose it is needed on.