“Optimizing Urban Sustainability: Empowering Cagayan de Oro with Smart Decision Support for Waste-to-Energy” or SWEEP-CDOC is a DOST-PCIEERD funded project that aims to address the city’s long-term waste management solutions.

Headed by Xavier University’s College of Engineering and in close coordination with the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), the project conducted various Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) at various barangays of the City. The initiative seeks to introduce the integration of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies as sustainable components to Cagayan de Oro’s rapidly growing urban landscape.

The IEC and FGD sessions kicked off last 10 October 2025 at the session hall of Barangay Lumbia, followed by Barangays Gusa, Kauswagan, Iponan, and Bugo, concluding last 13 November 2025.

The sessions provided an avenue for the local stakeholders to voice their concerns about the current waste management system. From their discontent towards the inconsistency of waste collection to the lack of appropriate waste management infrastructure, these conversations highlighted the importance of public participation in the decision-making process. The current waste problem is indeed a shared responsibility that demands sincere attention from policy makers and local stakeholders.

The insights gathered from these community engagements will help evaluate the awareness, perception, and feasibility of various Waste-to-Energy options. This will serve as a foundation for developing strategies that address the community’s concerns. By aligning the technology with grassroots perspectives, SWEEP-CDOC hopes to strengthen stakeholder participation and pave the way for a sustainable city, harnessing clean energy, inspiring technological innovations, and to answer the urgent calls for climate action.