Ma. Teresa B.

Ballados
September 2010 Legazpi City, Philippines 37

Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices in
Bacolod City, Philippines


Ma. Teresa B. Ballados
Carlos Hilado Memorial State College
Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
chmsc_rds@yahoo.com


Abstract


This paper highlights the results of the study that was conducted to analyze the solid waste
management practices of the waste generators, and the extent of their compliance with the
Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The study was conducted in Bacolod City, Philippines in 2007. The study utilized the descriptive
method of research and employed survey research to gather data. The findings of this study
served as basis in developing a handbook on solid waste management.

Research findings showed that the waste generators do not practice waste segregation. Dumping
of wastes in the streets, rivers and open drainage are often practiced. The respondents do not
also practice recycling of wastes because of the lack of facilities and lack of support from the
local government units. Thus, this study indicates that the local government units do not comply
with the implementing rules and regulations of the RA 9003. Lack of financial resources, lack of
authority to make financial and administrative decisions, no proper institutional set-up for solid
waste management, the difficulty of locating and/or acquiring landfill site, and the poor public
cooperation were among the factors that influence the non-compliance of the local government
units with the RA 9003.

Thus, massive educational campaign on appropriate and effective solid waste management
practices should be conducted in the residential, institutional, industrial, hospitals and
commercial establishments to promote public awareness. The local government units should
formulate a long-term and comprehensive solid waste management programs that would
encourage and motivate the public to encourage their cooperation and participation. The local
government units should likewise reach out and build partnership with non-government
organizations, private sectors and civic organizations to mobilize resources.

Keywords: solid waste management, implementing rules and regulations, compliance

Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices in Bacolod City, Philippines
38 4
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Asian Rural Sociology Association (ARSA) International Conference September 2010
Introduction

The overall challenge of sustainability is to avoid crossing irreversible thresholds
that damage the life systems of earth while creating long-termeconomic, political, and
moral arrangements that secure the wellbeing of present and future generations (Orr,
2005).

A factor that could worsen the environmental crisis is the increasing accumulation
of solid wastes which either have no counterpart in nature or which have not been
properly disposed (Arias, 1998). Solid wastes have been identified as one of the most
important environmental problems of urbanization. For an urban center with rapid-
urban migration, poor solid waste management practices are considered as disastrous
activities.

It has been observed that Bacolod City which is classified as highly urbanized city
in Negros Occidental, Philippines, is now facing solid wastes problem resulting to a lot
of environmental problems such as flood, pollution, congestion and others. This is due
to the existence of the fast-growing industries in the city, which encourage the rural
people to flock in the city for better employment opportunities. Alarmed by this
problem, the Local Government Units (LGUs) have realized the need to improve the
methods and ways in handling the solid wastes to ensure protection of public health and
environment from any harmcaused by these wastes.

The Republic Act 9003 also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act of 2000, which stipulates the need to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and
ecological solid waste management programs which shall ensure proper segregation,
collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the
formulation and adoption of the best environmental practices in ecological waste
management excluding incineration. Those wastes must be deposited in Sanitary
Landfill to ensure protection of public health and environment.

The barangay shall be responsible for the collection, segregation, recycling of
biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes. Material Recovery
Facilities (MRFs) will be established in every barangay or cluster of barangays (Section
1 of Rule XI of the IRR 9003).

The LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement
of the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions (RA 7160, otherwise
known as the Local Government Code). Segregation and collection of solid waste shall
be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable and
reusable wastes provided, that the collection of non-recyclable materials and special
wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city (Section 10 of RA 9003).

This paper provides an analysis of the solid waste management programof Bacolod
City in Negros Occidental, Philippines.


Ma. Teresa B. Ballados
September 2010 Legazpi City, Philippines 39
Research Methodology

A study was conducted to assess the solid waste management programin Bacolod
City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The study used the descriptive research method
and employed survey in determining the current solid waste management practices and
extent of compliance with RA 9003.

Two (2) sets of questionnaires were used as tools in data gathering from the waste
generators and implementers of RA 9003.

The study covered the responses of 214 waste generators and 25 implementers,
which were classified as barangay and city officials. Respondents from the residential
areas were chosen using the multi-stage sampling. Random sampling was used to
determine one sample barangay for each of the four areas in Bacolod City namely:
southern, northern, central and eastern areas. The respondent-implementers, on the other
hand, included the officials of the barangays where respondent-waste generators are also
residing. The city officials also serve as respondents, being the persons responsible in
the implementation of RA 9003.

Results and Discussion

Solid Waste Management Practices of the Waste Generators

The proper solid waste segregation includes using separate containers for bio-
degradable, non-biodegradable, domestic hazardous and bulky wastes with markings to
distinguish the type of wastes inside, and segregating for re-use, recycling and
composting. These however, are not being practiced in Barangays Sum-ag and 19 and
seldom observed in Barangays Estefania and 10 (Table 1). Proper collection and
transport were not practiced in the four barangays. The LGUs in the barangay level
were not responsible in the collection of the biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and
reusable wastes. Proper waste disposal was seldom practiced in the four barangays.
Solid wastes were usually dumped in the creeks, canals, open spaces, along the
sidewalks and deposited in the Felisa Open Dumpsite. Incineration was always
practiced. Waste recycling was not practiced in Barangay 19 and seldom practiced in
the other three barangays due to lack of recycling facilities, LGUs were not giving much
attention to recycling industry as well as public were not encouraged to use recycled
materials.
Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices in Bacolod City, Philippines
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Asian Rural Sociology Association (ARSA) International Conference September 2010
Table 1. Solid waste management practices of the respondent-waste generators in
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Respondents
(Households)
Average Weighted Mean Verbal Description
Proper waste segregation
Barangay 10 1.68 SP
Barangay Sum-ag 1.46 NP
Barangay 19 1.42 NP
Barangay Estefania 1.95 SP
Proper Waste Collection and Transport
Barangay 10 1.42 NP
Barangay Sum-ag 1.27 NP
Barangay 19 1.39 NP
Barangay Estefania 1.39 NP
Proper Waste Disposal
Barangay 10 1.72 SP
Barangay Sum-ag 1.64 SP
Barangay 19 1.64 SP
Barangay Estefania 1.72 SP
Waste Recycling
Barangay 10 1.72 SP
Barangay Sum-ag 1.58 SP
Barangay 19 1.29 NP
Barangay Estefania 2.20 SP
SP Seldom Practiced; NP Not Practiced

Table 2 shows the extent of the compliance of the implementers with the Ecological
Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Barangays 10, Sum-ag including the city
government unsatisfactorily complied and Barangay 19 did not comply with RA 9003,
specifically on segregation of wastes. Residents are provided with designated area and
containers with proper markings as compostable, recyclable, non-recyclable,
non-recyclable, or special wastes in RA 9003,

Ma. Teresa B. Ballados
September 2010 Legazpi City, Philippines 41
Table 2. Compliance of the respondents-implementers on the waste segregation
regulations in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Respondents
(Barangay & City Officials)
Average Weighted Mean Verbal Description
Barangay 10 1.72 USC
Barangay Sum-ag 1.75 UCS
Barangay 19 1.42 NC
Bacolod City Government 1.52 USC
USC Unsatisfactorily Complied; NC Not Complied

In terms of waste collection and transport, (e.g. separate collection schedules and
separate trucks or haulers with appropriate compartments with cover to facilitate
efficient storing of sorted wastes are used), the vehicles that are being used considered
the road, size, condition and capacity. Collection is done in a manner which prevents
damage to the container and spillage or scattering within the collection vicinity. All
collectors and other personnel are equipped with personal protective equipment to
protect them from hazards of handling wastes with proper trainings to ensure that solid
wastes are properly handled. The transfer stations are designed and operated for
efficient waste handling capacity, the three barangays and city government were
unsatisfactorily complying the said Act.

However, all of the respondent-barangays did not comply with the waste disposal
using controlled dumpsite with adequate soil cover or sanitary landfill for non-
biodegradable and non-recyclable wastes. The disposal area that is being maintained by
the city government is an open dumpsite.

Table 3. Compliance of the respondent-implementers in the waste collection and
transport regulations in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Respondents
(Barangay & City Officials)
Average Weighted Mean Verbal Description
Barangay 10 1.61 USC
Barangay Sum-ag 2.18 USC
Barangay 19 2.09 USC
Bacolod City Government 1.58 USC


Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices in Bacolod City, Philippines
42 4
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Asian Rural Sociology Association (ARSA) International Conference September 2010
Table 4. Compliance of the respondent-implementers on the waste disposal regulations
in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Respondents
(Barangay & City Officials)
Average Weighted Mean Verbal Description
Barangay 10 1.40 NC
Barangay Sum-ag 1.29 NC
Barangay 19 1.03 NC
Bacolod City Government 1.07 NC

As regards the waste recycling, the compliance ranged fromnon-compliance to
unsatisfactorily compliance. No Material Recovery Facility was established in the
barangays covered by the study. There were insufficient recycling facilities provided by
the LGUs in Barangay 10 and city government and non in Barangay Sum-ag and 19.
Market opportunity for recycled products was given less emphasis.

Table 6. Compliance of the respondent-implementers on water recycling regulations in
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Respondents
(Barangay & City Officials)
Average Weighted Mean Verbal Description
Barangay 10 1.58 USC
Barangay Sum-ag 1.46 NC
Barangay 19 1.00 NC
Bacolod City Government 1.60 USC

The results show that the respondent-barangays did not comply with the proper
solid waste management regulations because of issues and problems that are being faced
by the LGUs. These include the lack of financial resources; lack of authority to make
financial and administrative decisions; no proper institutional set-up for solid waste
management; difficulty in locating and acquiring landfill site; and poor public
cooperation.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The waste generators adopted poor solid waste management practices in terms of
waste segregation, collection and transport, waste disposal and recycling due to lack of
awareness on proper and effective ways of managing wastes. The LGUs face a number
of problems which hamper the adoption and/or compliance with the RA 9003 Act. In
view of these, the following recommendations are hereby proposed:
Ma. Teresa B. Ballados
September 2010 Legazpi City, Philippines 43
Massive information dissemination campaign on solid waste management should be
conducted to promote public awareness. The proposed handbook could be used as
an information and educational material.

LGUs should formulate a long-term and comprehensive solid waste management
programs that would encourage and motivate the public to give their cooperation
and full support.

LGUs should reach out and build partnership with non-government organizations,
private sectors and civic organization for additional resources.

References

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Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices in Bacolod City, Philippines
44 4
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Asian Rural Sociology Association (ARSA) International Conference September 2010
Government Issuances

RA 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations

RA 7160, the Local Government Code

PD 1152, the Philippine Environmental Code

RA 6969, Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act

PD 984, the Pollution Control Law

PD 1586, the Environmental Impact Assessment System Law

RA 8749, the Clean Air Act

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