Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Hundreds of residents, environmental advocates and urban poor groups gathered in Smokey Mountain, Tondo, in April as part of Earth Month activities to oppose a proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator project, raising concerns about its potential impact on health, housing and livelihoods.

The mobilization, organized by groups including the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific and the Manila Anti-Incinerator Alliance (MAIA), featured a silent protest and a community town hall (pulong bayan). Participants described the proposed facility as a ‘false solution’ to waste and energy challenges and linked it to broader policy debates on waste management and climate action.

‘Hindi buong matutugunan ang dambuhalang isyu sa enerhiya, klima, at kalikasan, hangga’t patuloy na pinagkakakitaan ang krisis at paghihirap ng ordinaryong mamamayan,’ said Mark Dorado of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.

(The massive crises in energy, climate and the environment will not be fully addressed as long as the suffering of ordinary people continues to be exploited for profit.)

Community concerns: housing, livelihood and displacement

Residents said the proposed project directly affects their day-to-day lives, particularly amid ongoing uncertainty over housing and relocation.

‘Dapat tayo ang unahin, tayong mga maralita. Sana pakinggan ang panawagan naming itigil ang waste-to-energy at tiyakin ang tirahan, kabuhayan, at kalusugan,’ said Mariafe Hulipaz of Sama-Sama sa Maayos na Tahanan at Hanapbuhay (SMTH).

(We, the poor, should be prioritized. We hope our call to stop the waste-to-energy project will be heard and that our rights to housing, livelihood and health are ensured.)

‘Hindi kami papayag na aalis kami dito. Dito kami mananatili. Paano na ang aming kabuhayan at ang kinabukasan ng aming mga anak?’ said Lenie Banting of Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay sa Upper Smokey Mountain (SMUSM).

(We will not agree to leave this place. We will stay here. What will happen to our livelihood and to the future of our children?)

Smokey Mountain, a former dumpsite, is now home to an estimated 55,000 residents across several barangays, including Barangays 105, 128 and 129.

Tensions in the area have been building in recent months, with reports of demolitions and alleged displacement linked by advocacy groups to the proposed project.

‘Pagod na pagod na kami at inuubos na bago pa man magkaroon ng diskusyon at tunay na proseso. Hindi ito tama,’ said Elena Plaza, president of Nagkakaisa at Nagdadamayang Maralita Organization.

(We are exhausted, and we are being pushed out even before there can be any discussion or proper process. This is not right.)

‘Bakit parang tapos na ang desisyon kahit walang malinaw na proseso? Kami ang nawawalan ng bahay at kabuhayan,’ Hulipaz said in an earlier report.

(Why does it seem like the decision has already been made even without a clear process? We are the ones losing our homes and livelihoods.)

‘Bakit laging ang mahihirap ang inuuna at isinasakripisyo? Para kanino ba talaga ang proyektong ito?’ said Anora Madrid, vice president of Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay sa Upper Smokey Mountain.

(Why are the poor always the ones prioritized for sacrifice? Who is this project really for?)

A P26-billion project under debate

The proposed WTE facility in Smokey Mountain is estimated to cost more than P26 billion and has been positioned by proponents as part of efforts to modernize waste management, generate energy and help address flooding in Metro Manila.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously said the project aims to ‘turn thousands of tons of waste into clean energy, reduce flooding, create jobs, and help clean up communities.’

The project involves partnerships with private firms, including Phil. Ecology Systems Corp. (PhilEco) and Japan-based Kanadevia Corp.

However, opposition groups have raised concerns over its cost, environmental impact and implementation. They cited a 2023 feasibility study referenced in community petitions that reportedly found the project ‘not viable’ due to environmental and social risks.

Brex Arevalo of GAIA Asia Pacific raised questions about the project’s justification.

‘Ang kasalukuyang krisis sa langis ay nangyayari kasabay ng mas matagal nang mga krisis-ang mga krisis sa kalikasan, komunidad, at korupsyon. Karapat-dapat ba na gumastos nang mahigit P26 bilyon para sa plantang waste-to-energy na magdudulot ng dambuhalang dami ng abo, polusyon sa hangin, at polusyon sa Manila Bay?’ Arevalo said.

(The current oil crisis is unfolding alongside longer-standing crises-crises in the environment, communities and corruption. Is it justifiable to spend more than P26 billion on a waste-to-energy plant that will generate massive amounts of ash, air pollution and pollution in Manila Bay?)

‘Karapat-dapat ba na magtayo ng planta na konektado sa ilegal na demolisyon at panliligalig ng mga komunidad? Karapat-dapat ba na itayo ang plantang ito habang ibinabalewala ang partisipasyon ng publiko at sangkatutak na pondo ang nawawala sa flood control at imprastruktura?’

(Is it justifiable to build a plant linked to illegal demolitions and the harassment of communities? Is it justifiable to construct this plant while public participation is being disregarded and large amounts of funding are being lost to flood control and infrastructure?)

Health risks and environmental data

Concerns raised during the protest draw from research and reporting on the impacts of waste incineration.

Experts and GAIA have reported that WTE incinerators are financially costly and harmful to the environment and pose considerable health risks to neighboring communities and the general population.

‘In a typical waste-to-energy plant, the air emissions include ultra-fine particles, and these ultra-fine particles are not even required by our laws to be tested, but they can cause heart attacks, lung disease, and more,’ said Jorge Emmanuel, an adjunct professor of environmental science and engineering at Silliman University.

Emmanuel said these facilities also produce toxic ash and wastewater. Studies note that about 25% to 30% of waste processed in incinerators becomes ash, which requires disposal in specialized hazardous waste landfills-facilities that remain limited in the Philippines.

Studies have also linked dioxins, described as highly toxic pollutants, to incineration processes.

‘Dioxins, which refer to a family of 210 specific chemicals, have been found to bio-concentrate up the food chain,’ Emmanuel said.

Health effects associated with such pollutants include respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancers, reproductive disorders and developmental impacts on children.

A citizen-led air monitoring study cited by GAIA last year highlighted that while many residents are familiar with the smell of burning waste-the itch in their throats and the sting in their eyes-what lingers is often invisible: fine particles known as particulate matter (PM), particularly PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

These particles, including PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, are many times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, which measures about 50 to 70 micrometers. Because of their size, they can bypass the body’s natural defenses and reach internal organs.

‘Because it is so small, particulate matter can easily permeate every organ in the body, with disastrous consequences on human health,’ GAIA said in its study.

GAIA also documented PM2.5 levels reaching as high as 106 micrograms per cubic meter in some communities in Dumaguete, where a pyrolysis-gasification plant with no known safeguards was built beside the city’s central waste facility-about seven times higher than the World Health Organization’s guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

Waste crisis and policy gaps

The debate over WTE comes amid broader challenges in the country’s waste management system. The Philippines generates around 61,000 metric tons of waste daily, including millions of plastic items such as 163 million sachets and 48 million shopping bags each day.

Despite the existence of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, implementation gaps remain. A Commission on Audit report found that only 39.05% of barangays were served by materials recovery facilities (MRFs) as of 2021, while only 29.25% of local government units had access to sanitary landfills.

Environmental groups said these gaps contribute to continued reliance on disposal-based systems rather than waste reduction and recycling.

‘All these illegal policies of imposing garbage fees and operating WTE incineration in Manila are not necessary if the city stops relying on direct waste hauling and disposal to landfills and prioritizes reducing waste at the source, segregation, and recycling,’ Mayang Azurin of GAIA Asia Pacific previously stated.

Legal and policy questions

Under RA 9003 and the Clean Air Act of 1999, incineration is prohibited. However, policy developments, including guidelines issued in 2016, have allowed certain WTE technologies, leading to ongoing debate over regulatory consistency.

In December 2025, House Resolution No. 592 was filed, seeking an investigation into reported demolitions in Smokey Mountain and issues related to the proposed WTE facility, citing possible violations of environmental laws and of the rights of the urban poor.

Advocates at the Earth Month protest also pointed to what they described as links between WTE promotion and both corporate and government interests.

‘The global crisis and war for dirty oil expose the impacts of our dependence on polluting systems. But solutions should not come at the expense of vulnerable communities already facing economic and climate risks,’ said Mela Llamado of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP).

‘Any ‘modernization’ that does not include the community’s welfare is just greenwashing,’ said Alyssa Darunday of Panatang Luntian Coalition.

Calls and demands

Participants called for the suspension of the WTE project, the protection of communities from displacement and the implementation of alternative waste management approaches.

‘Ngayon pa lang sa nararanasan natin, nahihirapan na tayo. Paano pa kung matuloy ang waste-to-energy? Ang usok nito ay maaaring magdulot ng sakit,’ said Jenniclear Gamoc of Anakbayan Manila.

(Even now, with what we are experiencing, we are already struggling. What more if the waste-to-energy project pushes through? Its emissions could cause illness.)

‘Dapat bigyang prayoridad ng gobyerno ang libreng paninirahan, healthcare, edukasyon, at iba pang demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan lalo na ngayong nasa krisis tayo,’ said Macoy Cabangon of BAYAN Manila.

(The government should prioritize free housing, health care, education and other democratic rights of the people, especially in this time of crisis.)

‘Ang tunay na makatarungang transisyon ay may pagrespeto sa karapatang pantao at pagprotekta sa kalikasan na siyang nag-uugnay sa ating lahat,’ said Kweyn Tagaduar of EcoWaste Coalition.

(A truly just transition respects human rights and protects the environment, which connects us all.)

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MAIA reiterated its demands, including upholding the incineration ban, ensuring in-city housing for residents, and addressing reports of harassment and displacement.

Yesterday, April 21, motorists saw another significant, double-digit rollback for diesel.

This means P112 per liter for the regular diesel and around P147 per liter for premium variants-significantly lower from previous highs of about P170 per liter. Gasoline and kerosene also saw small rollbacks of P3.41 and P2 per liter, respectively.

The big-time rollback in pump prices is attributed to the easing of tensions in the Middle East-ceasefires are being extended while select oil tankers are now starting to sail through the Strait of Hormuz despite the continuing United States blockade.

Below are the oil prices monitored and gathered by the INQUIRER team as of April 22, 2026.

PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC) has begun injecting electricity to the power grid with the commissioning of its 25-megawatt (MW) solar park in Pangasinan.

The Yuchengco-led company said on Wednesday that the testing and commissioning of the Bugallon Solar Power Project started on April 18. This, after PGEC secured the necessary permits.

‘As important, the facility’s milestone meets the administration’s urgent imperative to bring more indigenous and renewable energy capacity online, especially during this period of energy supply instability,’ PGEC assistant vice president Dave Gadiano said in a statement.

The facility is part of a 111.6-MW line up of four utility-scale solar projects under Rizal Green Energy Corp. It is a joint venture of PGEC with Japan-based Taisei Corp.

Once the preoperational testing with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is done, the solar park will operate under a fixed 20-year tariff. This followed a win at the second round of the government’s green energy auction program.

In another development, PGEC said its 13.2-MW Nabas-2 Wind project in Aklan had obtained from NGCP last week the final certificate of approval to connect to the grid.

‘The facility’s impending commercial operation not only takes advantage of the DOE’s (Department of Energy) and NGCP’s ongoing reinforcement of the Boracay-Caticlan-Nabas transmission line where Nabas-2 is connected, but also ensures that tourism and business establishments in Boracay and Aklan get more clean power from our Nabas wind farm,’ Gadiano added.

The DOE said last week that visitors to tourist haven Boracay Island can soon expect ‘a more reliable and resilient’ electricity supply as the new P5.27-billion transmission project nears completion.

The DOE said the project, once operational, would help address rising demand for power, boost system reliability and entice private players to keep building renewable energy assets.

The project is among the seven developments NGCP targets to complete within the year.

Palace press officer Claire Castro on Tuesday said she was grateful that the public could see who was truly working and who was merely taking vacations, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent trust and performance ratings.

Based on OCTA Research’s Tugon ng Masa survey for the first quarter of 2026, 54 percent of respondents expressed trust in Marcos, and 55 percent expressed satisfaction with his performance.

‘The citizens can clearly see and feel what the government is doing for them. However, we will say it again: whether the president’s approval rating rises or falls, the president will continue to work,’ Castro said.

She also said, ‘He will not be affected by negative or positive approval ratings. But we are also thankful because people can see who is really working and who is just on vacation.’

Based on the survey, Marcos’ highest trust rating was recorded in Balance Luzon at 59 percent, while the lowest was in Mindanao at 45 percent.

Meanwhile, across major areas, Marcos’ performance ratings reached majority levels in all regions, highest in Balance Luzon at 57 percent and Visayas at 56 percent, and lowest in NCR at 53 percent and Mindanao at 51 percent.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended for 90 days the license of the bus driver involved in a fatal road crash in Pagbilao, Quezon on Monday night.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, LTO-Region IV-A said the preventive suspension was imposed ‘as an initial measure to ensure public safety while the investigation is ongoing.’

The LTO said the driver has been ordered to surrender his license during the scheduled hearing.

It added that the bus involved in the incident has been placed under alarm status, prohibiting its use, sale, or transfer without LTO authorization.

Police earlier reported that two male passengers died while 35 others were injured after athe Manila-bound passenger bus plunged into a 32-foot-deep ravine on April 20.

Initial investigation showed the bus was navigating a descending curve along a diversion road in Barangay Silangang Malicboy when it reportedly experienced brake failure.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and plunged into the ravine.

The impact hurled passengers forward, leaving dozens with varying injuries. The victims were rushed to hospitals in Lucena City.

The two fatalities were declared dead on arrival at Quezon Medical Center.

LTO-Region IV-A Director Elmer Decena said the agency is coordinating with police and other concerned offices to ensure a swift, fair, and thorough investigation.

He stressed that the LTO will not tolerate reckless driving, especially when it results in loss of life and endangers the public.

‘We will not hesitate to enforce the full extent of the law against motorists who put lives at risk,’ Decena said. ‘The LTO will intensify monitoring and enforcement, particularly on public utility vehicles, to safeguard commuters,’ he said.

Senate ethics committee chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito on Tuesday urged Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, who has been absent from Senate sessions since November 2025, to voluntarily decline his salaries and allowances.

‘We are appealing to Sen. Bato dela Rosa to voluntarily decline his salaries and allowances in the Senate,’ Ejercito said in Filipino in a statement.

In the first 58 session days of the 20th Congress, dela Rosa was absent for 31 days. He had the most absences among the 24 senators.

Dela Rosa has not attended a Senate session since reports surfaced that an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court will be served against him for his alleged involvement in drug war killings during the Duterte administration.

The Senate, however, does not have a ‘no work, no pay’ rule.

‘As stated before, even by Senate President Sotto, the Senate has yet to establish rules that can compel attendance. Any formal action will take time, as it must go through amendments and proper deliberation,’ Ejercito added.

Still, dela Rosa is facing an ethics complaint for his absenteeism.

Ejercito then reminded his colleague: ‘The no work, no pay policy is imposed on ordinary Filipinos. It should also apply to those in public service.’

Authorities are investigating a robbery incident involving nearly P34,000 in church funds reported missing from a parish in Sogod town, Southern Leyte, police said.

A parish finance officer, identified as alias ‘Marie,’ 53, reported to the Sogod Municipal Police Station that a total of P33,950 in collected church offerings had been stolen from the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Barangay San Roque.

Police said the incident was discovered at around 5 a.m. on Monday when the complainant entered a room where the funds had been secured and found that a table drawer and a yellow box containing the money had been forcibly opened, with their padlocks destroyed.

Initial investigation revealed that the funds were counted the night before, April 19, at around 10 p.m., by the complainant and two other individuals. Of the total amount, P14,770 was placed inside a yellow box, while P19,180 was stored in a table drawer.

Responding officers conducted a site inspection and interviews upon receiving the report at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

Police have yet to identify the suspect or suspects, and further investigation is ongoing to determine responsibility and possible leads in the case.

‘We respect her decision even as we disagree with it.’

This was the statement of Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan on Tuesday after former vice president and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo announced that she will not run for national position in the upcoming 2028 elections

‘We respect her decision even as we disagree with it and believe that the national interest will be best served if at some future time she changes her mind and heeds the growing clamor of the people for her to lead the nation’s fight for genuine service and good governance,’ Pangilinan said in a statement.

‘I believe that Leni is in the best position to build the broadest and strongest unity not just amongst the ranks of the Liberal Party and our allies but to include all other groups and personalities outside our allied forces,’ he added, citing Robredo’s poll numbers.

Pangilinan stressed that with Robredo’s poll numbers on the rise, more ‘political colors,’ civil society and private sector groups would likely rally behind her.

‘A snowballing of support behind her bid is quite possible,’ Pangilinan added.

He also highlighted that Robredo’s poll numbers are much higher going into 2028, compared to that of 2022, adding that should she change her mind, ‘a formidable coalition, far broader er, more inclusive than the one we forged in 2022, can be cobbled together and lead us to victory in 2028.’

At the same time, he warned that Robredo’s abstention from running for a higher position ‘may create a leadership vacuum’ that may not be filled by others and could ‘lead to disunity,’ in the Liberal Party and its allies.

‘The net effect willl be the fielding of various political parties and groups of their respective presidential bets, further weakening our chances and delivering victory to our adversaries,’ he continued.

Despite declining a re-run for the national elections, Robredo declared her plan seek reelection as Naga City mayor.

Following her term as vice president from 2016 to 2022, Robredo made a bid for president in 2022 with Pangilinan as her running mate.

They, however, lost to now President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Robredo in 2025 became the first elected female mayor of Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Some P1.43 million worth of suspected shabu was seized from an elderly man in a buy-bust operation conducted on Monday, April 20, in Butuan City.

The suspect, identified as alias ‘Angkol,’ 63, of Barangay Maon, is classified as a high-value individual.

Seized during the operation were approximately 210 grams of suspected shabu along with P10,000 in marked money, a cellular phone, a sling bag, a coin purse, and an identification card belonging to the suspect.

The arrested individual and the confiscated pieces of evidence are now under the custody of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Butuan City Police Office for proper documentation and disposition.

Charges are set to be filed against the suspect.

The operation was carried out by operatives of the CDEU in coordination with the Butuan City Mobile Force Company (BCMFC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 13.

Brig. Gen. Marcial Magistrado reiterated the police’s commitment to intensifying its campaign against illegal drugs in the region.

‘We will not rest until these illegal drug traders are put behind bars. PRO13 will not allow them to roam freely on the streets, destroying lives and threatening peace and order in the region,’ he said.

Jema Galanza’s Finals form was in full display for Creamline, putting her team a win closer to title redemption in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

Galanza delivered 17 points and an efficient defensive game of 13 excellent receptions out of 18 attempts in Creamline’s 25-22, 25-18, 25-16 sweep of Cignal in Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals on Tuesday before 8,183 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 2024 All-Filipino Finals MVP seized the moment, drawing from her experience in nine All-Filipino and 15 overall Finals appearances.

‘These kinds of games don’t happen all the time, so we make sure to grab the opportunity and give our best. This is basically the last stretch of the season, so you think about all the hard work and sacrifices,’ said Galanza in Filipino. ‘

‘At this point, we give 200 percent and become even more eager to help each other, reminding ourselves to take it one point at a time until we finish it together.’

The former league MVP credited her performance to Creamline’s core, which has been intact since she joined the team in 2019.

‘I think what really helps is having teammates who support and trust in me, plus coaches who trust me too. They’re a big part of my life. In games like this, you just have to enjoy it and embrace it because these moments don’t come often. I’m really thankful to have teammates who boost my energy and morale.’

Galanza said the team’s toughest conference yet served as motivation, having survived do-or-die games in the Play-In and semifinals to reach the Finals.

‘This season has been really tough for us. In my time with Creamline, this is one of the hardest because other teams have really leveled up,’ said Galanza. ‘They’ve built strong lineups, and there were times we even questioned if we’d make it to the end. That’s why we’re more driven to win now. If we win this, it will really feel like we earned it.’

Despite taking Game 1, Galanza won’t rest on her laurels as Creamline goes for a title-clincher against Cignal on Thursday.

‘Cignal is the type of team that doesn’t stick to just one lineup. They make a lot of changes. So we need to stay patient and be ready for whatever adjustments they make in Game 2,’ said Galanza. ‘With only one day to prepare, we just have to recover well tonight, eat properly, rest, then go back to training before Game 2.’