Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has officially signed a lease agreement with Forza Development Corporation (FDC) for the development of a waste-to-energy (WTE) project on a 10-hectare property in Barangay Felisa. The signing ceremony took place at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Monday, May 4, 2026, with Gasataya and FDC President Sheryl Chua affixing their signatures to the contract.
The City Council had previously authorized Gasataya to enter into the lease agreement on April 29, 2026, approving the P4-billion WTE project. The facility will be situated within the city's sanitary landfill, which is part of the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Technological Hub (Birth) WTE Industrial Zone.
Gasataya clarified that the agreement exclusively covers the lease of the land. He stated, "No mention of the technology that will be used for the said project because it should be approved by the Department of Energy (DOE), this lease agreement is only for the property within the city's sanitary landfill." The mayor emphasized that the project will undergo the DOE's approval process.
The lease agreement spans 25 years, with an annual rental fee of P1.01 million. On April 14, 2026, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) endorsed the project to the mayor, awarding it to FDC as the highest calculated responsive bidder.
Gasataya noted, "This forms part of our broader initiative to establish a waste-to-energy project in Bacolod, which has been prioritized by the DOE." He added that the project will be developed at no cost to the City Government. Pending evaluation and approval from the DOE, the mayor expressed optimism that the project will generate employment opportunities and boost the local economy through revenue shares from power generation.
