The Medical City Asher Project receives unanimous support, poised to revolutionize hospital waste management

PASIG CITY, PHILIPPINES— The Medical City Ortigas has successfully concluded the Public Scoping for its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Amendment application for the pioneering The Medical City Asher Project, an initiative designed to set a new benchmark for sustainability and eco-friendly healthcare waste management in the Philippines.   

The public scoping session, held on November 21, 2025, Friday received resounding support from government agencies, neighboring communities, and business partners, highlighting the project's promise for a greener future. 

The Asher Project involves the installation of the advanced Asher pyrolysis1 technology, a cutting-edge, non-combustion system that thermally degrades infectious medical waste. It utilizes extreme heat up to 1600∘C through a process of plasma pyrolysis, breaking down waste into a sterile ash residue. 

Green Light for Groundbreaking Sustainability 

Project proponent Crisanta E. Donato, Head of TMC Ortigas Environment of Care Department and ESG Lead, reported that key stakeholders expressed their full support.  

Neighboring companies, including Meralco, Rockwell Business Center, The Strip Commercial Complex, FinServe Network, and the Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health, all conveyed positive feedback, expressing their admiration for TMC's forward-thinking environmental and sustainability measures. 

Crisanta E. Donato, Head of TMC Ortigas Environment of Care Department shows the location of the project installation of the facility at ground floor loading dock in TMC Ortigas. ESG PHOTO 

 In a strong vote of confidence, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Pasig City have even requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to help fast-track the project's permit processing. 

"The success of the public scoping session, with no negative comments and an impressive show of support from our neighbors and the CENRO, validates our patient-centered mission which includes championing sustainability as a social and moral obligation," Donato stated. "The Asher Project will allow us to address all concerns about hospital wastes." 

Zero-Waste, Circular Economy Initiative 

The Asher Pyrolysis Equipment offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods, providing major environmental benefits. Through this technology, TMC Ortigas aims to achieve a 96% landfill diversion by converting waste into non-hazardous ash. This by-product is not disposed of but instead sent to the Acasys Development Corporation to be used as a raw material for concrete admixtures and eco-bricks for infrastructure projects, directly supporting local circular economy initiatives. 

Key project benefits include: 

• Major Waste Volume Reduction: Waste volume is reduced by up to 96%. 

• Enhanced Environmental Protection: Emissions are minimized, with the Asher having already passed tests for the suppression of dioxin and furan. 

• Reduced Traffic Congestion: Onsite treatment minimizes the need for frequent hauling trips to offsite facilities, lowering the risk of transport-related accidents and spills. 

The machine, which can process 100 to 180 kg per hour and has a daily capacity of 2.5 to 5 metric tons, has already been successfully implemented in several facilities, including the Margosatubig Regional Hospital (Zamboanga del Sur, first installation), Dr. George Tocao Hofer Medical Center (Zamboanga Sibugay, second), Luis Hora Memorial Medical Center (Mountain Province, third), and Basilan General Hospital (Basilan, fourth). 

The Medical City Ortigas Environment of Care together with members of Enterprise Head Office – Environmental, Social, and Governance, Pasig Local Government Unit City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Neighboring companies, including Meralco, Rockwell Business Center, The Strip Commercial Complex, FinServe Network, and Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health on the Public Scoping for Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Amendment application of The Medical City Asher Project at TMC Ortigas in Pasig City. ESG PHOTO 

Next Steps Towards Launch  

The project is moving quickly through its final compliance phases. The required Ambient Air Testing has been successfully conducted. The final compliance steps include a scheduled presentation to the DENR Central Head Office tentatively set for the second week of December, followed by an independent emission testing of the machine by a DENR-accredited laboratory, which is mandatory before the final Permit to Operate (PTO) can be issued. 

The Medical City’s investment in the Asher Project underscores its commitment to the environment and public health, proving that advanced, high-acuity healthcare and leading-edge sustainability can go hand-in-hand. 

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1. Pyrolysis is a chemical reaction involving the thermal decomposition of organic material by applying heat in the absence or near absence of oxygen. This process is distinct from burning or combustion because there is no fire; instead, the applied heat causes high molecular vibrations, stretching and shaking the molecules to the extent that they break down into smaller molecules. The Asher technology uses this principle, specifically a plasma pyrolysis method, where a thermal degeneration chamber utilizes a magnetic field to create plasma ions under extreme heat of up to 1600∘C , resulting in the decomposition of inorganic and organic material. 

About The Medical City 

The Medical City is the Philippines’ largest healthcare network operating under a single brand. It is composed of one flagship complex in Ortigas, four provincial hospitals in Clark, Laguna, Iloilo, Pangasinan, over 70 clinics nationwide, and the only private hospital in Guam, USA. Annually, it serves over 2 million outpatients and 33,000 inpatients across the health system. 

With multiple Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditations, global benchmark certifications, and continued investment in innovation, The Medical City is building a healthcare system not just for today, but for the future of Filipino care.