The Philippines’ economy and communities have lately begun to reopen due to a more relaxed alert level, following a period of social detachment that gradually gave way to a more tangible physical distance. Despite our best efforts to recover, COVID has had a significant impact on our lives, one that may have long-term consequences. When it comes to the pandemic's impact and implications, we see things differently based on our status as individuals and members of communities. Our different social identities and the organizations to which we belong determine our level of social activity, and consequently our vulnerability to pandemic outbreaks.
In light of my previous blog, I asked the residents of Barangay Caniogan via an online survey. Has shed light on those issues/problems they strongly desired to be addressed in their community.
In the context of the aforementioned issue, first, flooding in the area, which is mostly related to the problem of the community's waste disposal and management, does not appear to be out of usual among the respondents. In reality, the most common problem was garbage disposal and management, with floods coming in second. However, the fact that this issue has been ongoing for many years indicates that it is still unsolved and may pose an extremely severe condition in the coming years.
Table 1. Shows the overall community issues that the residents including the barangay officials’ community issues that they want to be addressed in their community. In the previous survey, the topic of garbage disposal and management received the most (60%) mentions among respondents, whereas the others received only one to three (10-30%) mentions. In this table, we can see the newly added community concern from the perspective of officials, wherein they respond to the lack of property to put MRFs as well as the issue of robbery and loss of things.
And, in order to further comprehend and seek different viewpoints on the topic, the same question was raised to new respondents, but this time two barangay officials responded. According to Ms. Evelyn T. Salazar, Caniogan's Brgy. Secretary;
"Nakawan o walaan Ng gamit, kawalan Ng hanap Buhay Ng iba na nauuwi sa pagnnakaw o panguumit. Buhat ng nakaraang pandemya humirap Ang kabuhayan Ng aming ka baranggay na nauwi sa makaisip Ng Hindi Tama..Minsan ay may Hindi rin Taga rito na naligaw upang mangumit Ng mga kagamitan.”
The same question was posed to Brgy. Councilor Joel Alejandro, who responded as follows:
“Problema tungkol sa basura. Sa aming barangay wala kaming sariling lupa para pagtaguan Ng MRF, Ang aming pangarap ay magkaroon sariling lupa upang tayuan nito at sa ganon ay mas madali namin mamange ang problema sa basura. Kasalukuyan ay nagbayad lamang kami sa mga truck na naghahakot Ng aming basura, kung kami ay magkaroon Ng sariling MRF ay makatipid kami at magamit sa Iba pang proyekto Ang aming pondo”
According to a study, one of the most serious urban environmental challenges in the Philippines is solid waste management (SWM) (Aguinaldo, 2008). A Filipino generates between 0.3 and 0.7 kilograms (kg) of waste every day, and yearly waste creation was predicted at 10 million tons in 2000, with a 30% increase expected in 2010. (World Bank, 2001). According to the National Solid Trash Management Commission (NSWMC), the country generates 30,000 tons of solid waste each day, with 73 percent coming from families, 26 percent from commercial enterprises, institutions, and industries, and 1 percent coming from healthcare facilities (Aguinaldo, 2008).
Recognizing the need of addressing this rapidly developing urban environmental concern, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) formed the NSWMC under the President's Office. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) further institutionalized suitable SWM at the local government level. RA 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mandates local government units (LGUs) to achieve a 25% waste reduction by developing integrated solid waste management plans based on the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycling).
Section 32 of RA 9003 “mandates the building of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in a barangay or cluster of barangays, where it will be built, and for what purpose, while Section 33 establishes MRF criteria. A Materials Recovery Facility is required in every barrio or cluster of barangays (MRF).”
Because the barangay doesn't have land to put MFRs, Brgy. Councilor Joel Alejandro says, the money goes to pay for trucks instead of other barangay projects because there isn't enough land. This shows that Barangay Caniogan's history hasn't been able to cut down on its waste because they don't have the land to build the Materials Recovery Facility. If only local governments have a lot of support from the public, they can see the results of their work by working together and coming up with good local strategies, building partnerships with other groups, getting enough funds, and keeping an eye on their performance.
On the other hand, according to Brgy. Secretary Evelyn Salazar, the issue regarding robbery and loss of belongings, is the result of the loss of livelihood of others that leads to theft or embezzlement. Along with this, she said that the pandemic has made the livelihood of their ka-barangay miserable and led them to wrongdoings. She also added that sometimes there were also non-locals who intends to go to the area, only to steal.
As a member of the said community, I honestly had no idea there was a robbery problem in our Barangay. However, this survey found that the problem arose as a result of the pandemic's major transition and changes in people's lives, as well as great poverty, which eventually led to misbehavior.
These issues raised by Barangay Caniogan respondents remained unresolved. And the fact that the pandemic has been added to the list of reasons why these difficulties continue to arise begs the question of when they will be addressed. Who is to blame for this problem? Is it too late to demand action?
While many people in the previous survey felt incapable of effecting real change, change can happen whether we want it or not. Sadly, those with the least influence over conditions tend to suffer the most. While I may enjoy additional days of this pandemic, others, especially those most affected, do not have this option.
Since the virus spread over two years ago, our world has shrunk. This isn't just about doing more of our everyday routines or having access to almost everything all around the country, if not the world. In fact, it's the exact opposite. With fast access to the entire world and a genuine community right in front of us, our world is shrinking. We can either accept our current situation or learn to see our community and barangay in new ways.
References:
D.G.J.P.⇑.A.M.L.C.M.N.T.A.K. (2013). Policy implementation of the Republic Act (RA) No. 9003 in the Philippines: A case study of Cebu city. Policy Implementation of the Republic Act (RA) No. 9003 in the Philippines: A Case Study of Cebu City.
R.E.P.U.B.L.I.C.O.F.T.H.E.P.H.I.L.I.P.P.I.N.E.S. (2022). FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION – SECRETARIAT. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION – SECRETARIAT.
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