Project Governance and Municipal Readiness for Waste-to- Energy Infrastructure: Evidence from Second-Class Municipalities in the Philippines

The growing volume of municipal solid waste and increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions have intensified interest in waste-to-energy (WtE) infrastructure among local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines. While WtE presents a promising approach to integrating solid waste management and renewable energy generation, its implementation at the municipal level, particularly in second-class municipalities remains limited. These municipalities face distinct challenges related to institutional capacity, fragmented governance arrangements, financing constraints, and stakeholder coordination. Existing studies on WtE in the Philippine context have largely focused on technical feasibility, environmental impacts, and policy considerations, while giving limited attention to the project governance mechanisms that shape project outcomes. This study responds to this gap by examining project governance as a practical, rather than purely theoretical, determinant of waste- to-energy (WtE) development in second-class municipalities. Rather than assuming that governance readiness directly leads to implementation, the study investigates how specific governance arrangements, such as institutional roles, coordination mechanisms, and decision-making processes, are perceived and operationalized at the local level. Drawing on project governance and infrastructure governance literature, the analysis focuses on how these arrangements shape planning readiness, risk management, and stakeholder engagement over the WtE project lifecycle. The proposed governance model is situated within the Philippine decentralized governance context, where local governments exercise primary responsibility for solid waste management but operate within fragmented regulatory and institutional environments. While the model aligns with national energy and sustainability objectives, it is developed with explicit attention to the practical constraints faced by second-class municipalities, including capacity limitations, coordination gaps, and implementation uncertainty. In this sense, the study does not present governance as a guaranteed pathway to WtE deployment, but instead treats it as a necessary, although not sufficient, condition for advancing project feasibility and accountability. This research contributes to the limited body of literature on municipal-level project governance for WtE infrastructure in developing country contexts. It provides both theoretical and practical insights for policymakers, LGU officials, and project practitioners seeking to advance sustainable waste and energy solutions through improved governance mechanisms.