• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Bacolod Integrated Recycling Technology Hub (BIRTH) will soon rise in a 25-hectare area in Barangay Felisa to accommodate recycling facilities that may be established in the city.
Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, June 8 that BIRTH is also designed to transform waste into valuable resources and support Bacolod’s goal of becoming the country’s next super city.
Benitez said the BIRTH project has been carefully programmed, designed, and planned to accommodate stakeholders and locators engaged in recycling equipment, materials, and manufacturing facilities.
The hub aims to initially recycle 80 to 100 percent of the city’s waste and convert it into productive uses.
“This is a very crucial component of our vision to make Bacolod the next super city,” Benitez said during the launching of partner establishments’ ‘Collect, Recycle, Renew’.
He emphasized that those attending the event are now part of a historic effort to transition Bacolod toward a circular economy, where waste is transformed into useful products rather than ending up in landfills.
One of the flagship programs under the city’s circular economy initiative is the conversion of used cooking oil into biodiesel, which can be utilized by fisherfolk and other diesel-dependent sectors.
Benitez called on the stakeholders, including restaurants, hotels, households, government agencies, local government units, and barangays to support the initiative and help expand its reach.
“All of us must work together if we want this program to succeed and benefit more people,” he said.
The biodiesel program has already benefited 10 barangays in Bacolod and now involves 22 participating establishments.
To date, around 925 beneficiaries have gained from the initiative.
Meanwhile, Councilor Bobby Rojas, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on energy, said the city is aiming to establish biodiesel stations around Bacolod.
He noted that the program is already attracting attention and is being replicated by other local government units.
Moreover, Benitez said the biodiesel project offers a practical solution to the challenges faced by fisherfolk, many of whom struggle with rising fuel costs.
“If diesel prices reach P80 to P100 per liter, many fisherfolk can no longer afford fuel for their pump boats,” he said. “The biodiesel program provides an alternative solution.”
He explained that biodiesel produced from used cooking oil costs only about P22 to P25 per liter, significantly lower than conventional diesel fuel.
Benitez added that organizing cooperatives in barangays could turn biodiesel production into a livelihood opportunity.
“If cooperatives can sell biodiesel at around P35 to P40 per liter, it would be enough to sustain operations while providing income for communities,” he said.
Benitez described the event as symbolic of the city’s collective commitment to environmental sustainability.
“We want Bacolod to recycle and reuse waste so it will not pollute our environment and can instead be transformed into valuable products,” he said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) acknowledged the initiative and commended Benitez and the project team for advancing innovative solutions that promote energy security and environmental sustainability.
DOE said the biodiesel initiative is among the solutions that can help cushion the country’s dependence on imported oil.
The agency is currently conducting laboratory testing and evaluation of the biodiesel derived from used cooking oil and is working toward establishing Philippine standards for its wider use.
The DOE assured stakeholders that the department remains committed to providing the technical assistance necessary to further develop and scale the biodiesel program, helping transform it into a sustainable model that can be adopted by other communities nationwide. | GB
