LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA —Alterna Verde, a Filipino-owned and operated waste-to-energy (WTE) company specializing in sustainable solid waste management solutions, conducted a seminar on February 9, 2026, at 10:31 PM at the SEARCA–UP Los Baños Conference Hall, focusing on “Data-Driven Approaches to Sustainable Solid Waste Management: Integrating Drone Applications, Surface Hydrology, and Groundwater Modeling for Waste-to-Energy Applications.”
The seminar highlighted innovative strategies to improve efficiency, sustainability, and environmental safety in local solid waste management. A central case study was the San Pablo City Baloc Sanitary Landfill and Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), the city’s primary waste disposal site operational since the early 2000s, which has faced challenges including leachate management, methane emissions, and proper waste segregation.
The research and study were prompted by concerns raised by local city consultants, who noted that leachate, the liquid that percolates through waste and contains dissolved organic and inorganic contaminants, could potentially seep into surrounding soil and threaten the city’s water table. This led Alterna Verde to emphasize data-driven and predictive approaches, including hydrological and groundwater modeling, to evaluate potential risks and mitigate contamination. Scientific modeling allows experts to simulate the movement of leachate through soil layers, estimate its travel time to groundwater, and assess long-term impacts on water quality, enabling more informed management decisions and preventive interventions.
Alterna Verde has been formally involved in managing the Baloc Sanitary Landfill under a 20-year contract signed with the previous city administration, giving the company a long-term operational and technical oversight role.
During the seminar, experts discussed how drone technologies, surface hydrology, and groundwater modeling can enhance landfill monitoring, predict long-term environmental impacts, and support waste-to-energy and carbon capture projects. Participants emphasized that some effects, such as groundwater contamination or leachate migration, may take up to 60 years to fully manifest, highlighting the importance of long-term, data-driven planning.
Among the experts present was Dr. Maurice Alfonso Duka, a Professional Agricultural Engineer and Associate Professor IV at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), specializing in surface water and groundwater modeling, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, and 3D hydrodynamic modeling. Dr. Duka earned his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, and a Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Engr. Siegfred L. Delos Santos, a licensed Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer, shared his experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, water resources assessment, and decision support systems for river basins and lake governance, with technical expertise in HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, WEAP, GIS, and Python-based automation. Engr. Leunell Chris M. Buela, a Hydrogeologist and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer with CEST Incorporated, serves as a Groundwater Modeler and Assistant Professor at UPLB, with specialization in groundwater and hydrologic modeling, climate resilience studies, and sustainable water management. Dr. Jabez Joshua Flores, PhD in Environmental Science with a cognate in Development Communication from UPLB, and a former DOST–ASTHRDP and SEARCA PhD Research Scholar, also contributed insights, drawing on his experience in environmental research and landscape ecology.
“The integration of drones, hydrology, and groundwater modeling provides a scientific approach to solid waste management,” said a representative from Alterna Verde. “It helps projects like the Baloc Sanitary Landfill operate more sustainably while supporting resource recovery and energy generation.”
While the seminar focused on technological innovations, experts acknowledged that cost, technical complexity, ongoing maintenance, and emissions from waste-to-energy processes remain important considerations. They also noted that predictive models cannot fully replace human oversight, and unexpected events or changes in waste composition could affect results.
The seminar drew environmental scientists, engineers, students, local government representatives, and civil society groups, providing a forum to explore technical solutions for sustainable solid waste management.
“Data-driven planning can support better waste management and resource recovery, but its effectiveness depends on governance, technical capacity, and consistent operational management,” said Dr. Nervy Santiago, CEO and General Manager of Alterna Verde.
The event underscores the growing role of technology and scientific modeling in municipal solid waste management, highlighting how innovation can improve efficiency, environmental safety, and long-term sustainability in landfill operations, while addressing real risks to San Pablo City’s water resources.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
