Lupine Publishers | Open Access Journal of Environmental and Soil Sciences
Abstract
Solid waste is one of the major
problems in the urban communities due to congestion and improper garbage
disposal. This problem may lead to some health and disaster-related issues.
University Belt Area (UBA), a congested place in Manila City, Philippines
generate tons of solid waste materials daily. Given this condition, it is
significant to know the response of the local government units (LGUs) in
addressing this type of problem. Thus, this study investigated the solid waste
management programs (SWMP) implemented by UBA barangays and its problems encountered
in implementing the said programs. The awareness of the residents on SWMP and
their suggestions for effective implementation of these programs were also
determined. An in-depth interview was conducted among barangay officials. Small
group discussion (SGD) was conducted among the selected residents. Thematic
analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data while descriptive
statistical tools were used to analyze the quantitative data. Findings revealed
that programs implemented by ten barangays in UBA are categorized into
educational, infrastructure, waste reduction, and regular cleaning activity.
These programs are known to most of the residents who participated in the
study. In the process of implementation, the LGUs are facing some constraints.
These constraints include lack of discipline among the residents, lack of
funds, irregular collection of waste materials, location of the barangay, and
poor segregation practices.
Keywords: Barangays; Solid waste; Solid waste management programs;
University belt area; Urbanized areas
Introduction
Every day the world is getting more
urbanized. The rate of urbanization is increasing at an alarming rate. United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) reported that 34% of
the world’s total population in 1960 was living in the urban centers. In 2014,
this rate increased to 54% [1]. This increase in urban population is brought by
the natural increase due high fertility rate of the urban population and rapid
rural to urban migration [2]. The rapid rate of migration is attributed to the
pull factors inherent to the urban environment itself [3] like better job
opportunities, access to health and educational facilities, and high standard
of living.
Materials and Methods
Research
design
The research design employed both
descriptive and qualitative approaches. Qualitative research aims to interpret
meanings, descriptions, and symbols [7]. The goals of this type of research are
to provide answers to the why’s and how’s. On the other hand, descriptive
approach was used to describe characteristics of the population being studied
[8]. This approach answers the question of “what” in the study. Objectives 2
and 4 were answered using qualitative approach while objective 3 was answered
using descriptive method. Both qualitative and descriptive approaches were used
to answer objective 1.
Research
locale
The study was conducted in the
U-Belt area. The name was given to this area because of the high concentration
of the colleges and universities in this place. Originally, this name was given
only to San Miguel district but technically it includes the nearby districts
such as Quiapo, Santa Cruz. This area covers Mendiola Street, Morayta Street
(now Nicanor B. Reyes Street), eastern end of Azcarraga Street (now Recto
Avenue), Legarda Street, western end of España Boulevard, and the different
side streets (Figure 4). This study covers the 10 barangays as given in Table
1.
Respondents
of the study
The participants of the study were
the 7 chairperson, 3 barangay councilors, and randomly selected residents of
the ten barangays in the U-Belt Area. Ten barangay chairpersons and several
barangay councilors were asked about the solid waste management programs
implemented by their respective barangays and the problems they encountered
during the implementation of the said program in an in-depth interview. The
councilors interviewed in this study were the heads of the committee on health
and sanitation. Selected residents were asked about their awareness on solid
waste management programs of their respective barangays and their
recommendations for effective implementation of the said programs during the
small-group discussion (SGD).
Research
instruments
Two research instruments were used
to gather the data needed in this study. These instruments were the interview
guide questions for in-depth interview and guide questions for small group
discussion. The contents of these instruments were validated by the experts in
the field of research and solid waste management.
Data
collection procedure
In order to gather the data needed
for the study, the researchers did an in-depth interview with the barangay
chairpersons and barangay councilors, focus-group discussion with the randomly
selected residents, and regular observation was also conducted to validate the
results. The methods in the in-depth interview and small group discussion were
patterned from the suggestions of Yukalang et al. [7]. The items in the
questionnaires were based from the ideas of Yukalang et al. [9] and McAllister
[10].
In-depth
interview
An in-depth interview with eight
barangay captains, 1 barangay councilor, and 1 barangay secretary was conducted
by the researchers to determine the solid waste management programs implemented
by the barangays around the U-Belt area and the problems encountered by the
communities in the process of implementation of the said programs. The
researchers prepared the guide questions for interview ahead of time. The guide
questions were validated by the expert in the field of research and
environmental issues and concerns. The English version of the guide questions
was translated into Tagalog so that the respondents can understand better and
they can freely engage in the conversation. The researchers asked permission to
record the conversations from the barangay captains, barangay councilor, and
barangay secretary. Field notes were also utilized to record pertinent
information during the interview.
Small
group discussion
Eight small group discussions were
conducted during the duration of the study. The number of participants and date
of discussion in the selected barangays in the U-Belt areas during the
discussion are reflected in Table 1. The demographic profile of the
participants such as age, occupation, and highest educational attainment were
noted during the onset of the activity. Each participant was asked regarding
his/her awareness about the implemented solid waste management programs in
his/her barangay.
Observation
In order to counter-check the
information disclosed by the barangay chairpersons and councilors, regular
observations were conducted by the researchers. A weekly observation on the
implementation of the solid waste management programs and the difficulties
associated with the implementation of these programs was done from March to
September 2017.
Data
analysis procedure
After the collection of data, the
data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and thematic
analysis. The quantitative data were interpreted using the descriptive
statistical tools such as frequency counts and relative frequency. Meanwhile,
the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. In this method,
patterns or themes within data were identified, analyzed, and reported [7].
Patterns across data sets that are important to the description of a phenomenon
and are associated to a specific research questions are referred as themes
[11]. The themes generated from the data were validated by the experts in the
field of research and solid waste management.
Results and Discussion
Solid waste management programs in
the U-belt areas Results of the in-depth interview indicated that the programs
implemented by ten barangays in the U-Belt areas are categorized into
educational, infrastructure, waste reduction, and regular cleaning activity
(Figure 5). Under educational programs, barangays implemented waste segregation
campaign and information campaign. Also, they strictly imposed the “No
segregation, No Collection Policy.” They also conducted the massive information
campaign about proper ways of segregating of the waste materials as mandated by
Republic Act 9003. Barangays are actively allotting budget for infrastructure
which will counter the disaster which may be brought about by improper solid
management. They have been allocating budget for repairing drainage system and
constructing material recovery facilities. Material recovery facility serves as
an area to store non-biodegradable materials prior to disposal.
Awareness
of the residents on solid waste management programs
During
the SGD, all participants were asked about their awareness on the programs
implemented by the barangays in the U-Belt area on solid waste management.
Findings of the investigation showed that 89% (31) of the participants are
aware about the programs while 11% (4) participants are unaware (Figure 7).
Generally, the results manifest that most of them have an idea about the
implementation of the aforementioned programs. Awareness of the people about
the programs is the outcome of the massive information drive and visibility of
the infrastructure projects of the local government units. The high percentage
of awareness on solid waste management programs among the residents in the
U-Belt barangays is an indication that people are vigilant and participative in
the programs and projects of the communities. Their participation ranges from
attending the general assembly of the barangays up to abiding the proper segregation
policy. On the hand, there are residents that remain not ware about the
programs and policies of the barangays on solid waste management. Perhaps, they
are not watchful regarding what is going to their communities and at the same
time they are not participative to the activities of their barangays.
Constraints
on solid waste management
Constraints encountered in the
course of the implementation of every project and program makes the
implementation itself very challenging. The problems encountered by the
barangays in the U-belt areas in the implementation of the solid waste
management programs are given in Figure 8. Findings showed that all ten
barangays are currently facing the problem on the lack of discipline among the
residents. They throw their garbage anywhere. They are particular of the
designated places for their waste materials. Barangay 399 and Barangay 404
consider deficiency of funds as a major problem in the implementation of the
program on solid waste management. Furthermore, it is also indicated above that
7 out of 10 barangays except for barangays 399, 402 and 403 are experiencing
problem in terms of irregular collection of wastes. Findings also show that the
barangays 395 and 397 are facing a problem on their location, which causes these
barangays to produce more solid waste materials.
Recommendations
of the residents for effective implementation of solid waste programs
Some of the programs on solid waste
management are not effectively implemented due to the political, educational,
and socio-economic reasons. During the focus group discussion, the residents
suggested some recommendations to the barangay officials for effective and
efficient implementation of the solid waste management programs in the U-Belt
Areas. These include implementation of the appropriate barangay resolutions,
raising public awareness, and imposition of penalties for the violators.
Implementation
of the appropriate barangay resolutions
One of the best strategies in order
to ensure the effective implementation of the solid waste programs is to pass
the appropriate barangay resolutions. The residents said that the existing
resolutions are not enough to support the implementation of the aforementioned
programs. Hence, the barangay council needs to pass some additional resolutions
aside from “No Segregation; No Collection Policy.” These resolutions once
passed should be disseminated to the general public. According to the
respondents, in order for the residents to become fully aware of these
resolutions, the council should ensure maximum attendance of the residents
during the barangay assembly. In the era of rapid urbanization in the cities of
the third world countries (e.g. Manila), appropriate policies should be
implemented to address the problems associated with high urbanization growth
[14]. In the case of the barangays in the U-Belt Areas, in order make solid
waste management programs effective the policies and resolutions that may focus
on allotting budget for the implementation of the programs, improving the
linkages to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sectors, and
cause-oriented groups and proper spatial planning.
Raising
public awareness
The success of the programs and
projects on solid waste management strongly depends on the support of the
stakeholders and the general public. The participation of these groups of
people can be maximized if they have been properly informed. As revealed by the
residents, the barangay should boost the awareness of the people through
educational campaign and massive public information dissemination drive. The
campaign for solid waste management programs in the U-Belt area can be
disseminated well through posting in the bill boards and other public places.
Campaign can be done during the barangay assembly; hence, the barangay
officials should ensure the maximum attendance of the residents. Cultural and
literary programs through songs and poetry can also be explored in order to
boost the awareness of the people thriving in the U-Belt Area.
Imposition
of penalties for the violators
According to the participants in the
SGD, there is a need to impose penalties to the violators in order to make
implementation of the solid waste management more effective. Violators, in the
context of this study; refers to the residents who are not abiding with the
policies and resolutions about management of solid waste. For instance, these
people don’t dump their garbage materials in the right bins and throw their
waste materials in bodies of water. Those who are doing such should be
penalized by the barangay councils. The penalty could be letting them engage on
community service or pay offenders can pay a certain amount of money. Community
service, on the other hand, could include cleaning the public places such
plaza, streets, and bodies of water and repairing of the drainage system.
Imposing these types of penalties will create a culture of discipline and
support among the residents.
Conclusion
The programs implemented by ten
barangays in the U-Belt areas are categorized into educational, infrastructure,
waste reduction, and regular cleaning activity. These programs are known to
most residents of the area. In the process of implementation, the LGUs are
facing some constraints. These constraints are: lack of discipline of among the
residents: lack of funds: irregular collection of waste; location of the
barangay; and lack of segregation.
Acknowledgement
The authors would to like to thank
the technical expertise of Prof. Mayflor M. Tacardon for validating the
instruments and providing us the idea how to present the data gathered and
Madam Juliet Salubre, Solid Waste Management Officer, Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB) of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) VI,
Philippines for validating the questionnaires and the themes generated from
this study.
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