Ranked as the World’s third biggest polluter in 2020 and third largest solid waste generator in Southeast Asia in 2018, waste management is no longer a surprising issue in the Philippines. In fact, 20 percent of the countries whopping count of garbage deposit only end up in the ocean (McKinsey, 2015), turning tides into wave of pollution.
It is likely to be of particular interest to talk about the country’s grappling condition in the production and consumption of plastic materials, in relation to sustaining its proper management while at the same time making sure that it will not exceed the country’s waste infrastructure capacity.
Moving on to the compounding issue of waste management we all find critical. I have decided to scour the story and unleash the unread pages I find crucial in raising public awareness. Waste is not just a waste indeed. It can impose serious and can deteriorate the health of people and environment when not disposed properly.
In relation to this, and to those keeping their eyes closed to the case, try wandering and you’ll know. This is real, it is happening. Just by looking at the corners of every street, at every road, at every bin, you can already attest the prevalent existence of this abiding concern.
Speaking of waste issues, Barangay Tikay, one of the fastest growing communities in the city of Malolos, province of Bulacan, is experiencing likewise as they face an exhausting combat in ceasing the aggravating problem of improper waste management.
Over the course of years, Tikay is suffering the worse case of water pollution which is mainly caused by what they called reckless and repetitive improper waste management.
Looking back to the preceding blogs where we have tried to get the separate insights of citizens and officials, shown below are the figure representing the community issues they both find substantial enough to discuss.
Fig. 1 Community Issues that the respondents want to be addressed
It appears from the figure above that 40% of the respondents find garbage disposal the most pressing issue within their barangay and one common factor affecting this idea is the fact that the respondents themselves had a firsthand encounter to the mentioned problem, leading them in to moving and calling off the government in making a quick response to the case reported.
“Mukhang wala namang ginawang kilos ang officials […] Siguro kung [mayroon] man silang ginawang kilos, hindi sapat or hindi nila na-prioritized.”
The above statement came from respondent 7, expressing his dismay to the LGU’s allegedly “little to no response.”
It came from my previous blog entitled, “TIK-EYE: Addressing Tikayeños’ Issues and Attesting they’re True”, in which I have asked the samples if they could give point/s explaining the reason as to why in spite of collaborative effort and shared determination of everyone, the case, to this day, still remains unsolved.
Photo Credits: Roberto Hernandez
Primarily, this report was supposed to require an inclusion of at least eight random citizens and at least two officials to impart their sentiments, suggestions, and grievance regarding the case.
However, the fulfillment of the said requirement was halted due to the hesitation of other citizens and officials in participating and granting my interview request. But since I have no sense of quitting, I have just utilized all information I have collected from the preceding tasks in bridging the residents’ sentiments towards the officials'.
While other citizens are certain that government are all barks and no bite, the LGU of Barangay Tikay in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bulacan, PENRO Bulacan, CENRO Guiguinto, representatives from EBM Central Luzon, and some local settlers, recently conducted a clean-up drive and a house-to-house waste management campaign initiated to educate the residents and raise wider public awareness.
Photo Credits: PIA Bulacan
According to the conservation chief of PENRO Bulacan, Mrs. Teresita Abrazaldo, the activity not only aimed to reduce the aggravation of waste disposal issue but also a culmination in celebrating the month of the oceans.
After asking number of officials for an interview request, only one brave man accepted the challenge.
In an interview with Mr. Cesar Villafuerte A. Jr, presently Barangay Kagawad and resident of Tikay, he emphasized that government have plans. In fact, they have conducted several projects and currently working on implementing more supporting programs that will strengthen and increase the efficiency of the process.
Screenshot from the full interview with Kgwd. Cesar Villafuerte A. Jr.
Click the google drive link to watch the full recorded interview:
Mr. Villafuerte asserted that government is not passive and absolutely not the foe of every citizen. As a matter of fact, he agreed to the results stating that Improper Waste Management is truly the problem of the community he is serving.
“Yes, definitely. Agree ako doon sa […] waste segregation ang problema”
He had also accentuated other factors such as insufficient facility and equipment contributing to the struggle of coping and totally combatting the improper waste issue, and have also shared his thoughts as to why the project continuously failed despite the evident effort.
Mr. Villafuerte stated that Tikay is actually a catch basin of different places’ wastes and with the LGU’s eagerness to solve the problem, they have actually mediated and had an agreement with nearby Barangays to have a jurisdiction and responsibility in cleaning the areas within their reach.
In spite of the projects which aimed to solve the case, waste issue of Barangay Tikay continues to persist. Mr. Villafuerte have stated that the LGU soon realized that the problem was not in the projects but the implementation and citizens themselves.
“Huwag na mag-focus sa basura. Ang gawin natin is mag-focus tayo sa main cause ng problem. Ano ba [iyong] main cause ng problem, which is tao”
It is true that waste issue is not just confined in Tikay, but a persisting and truly prevalent problem across the country. The waste issue of Barangay Tikay is probably one of the worst in the province.
However, no matter how deep, no matter how high, no matter how waste issue tried to impede our lives, still, the control is in our hands. But before I put this to an end, let Mr. Villafuerte’s realization sink into you.
“Ang batas nandiyan na, matagal nang pinag-aralan iyan ng mga matatalino nating mga konseho […] Nandiyan na iyan. Nandiyan na iyong mga batas. Ang kailangan nalang ay iyong suporta coming from… mamamayan, coming from community.”
Sharing this story is my first assignment in helping the country solve the situations alike.
I am done.
Now it’s your turn.
References:
Fernandez, H., A. (2020, June 10).Why plastic-clogged Philippines must face up to dearth of waste disposal and recyclying. Eco-Business. Retrieved June 06, 2022 from https://www.eco-business.com/news/why-plastic-clogged-philippines-must-face-up-to-dearth-of-waste-disposal-and-recycling/
Romero, P. (2020, September 7). Phl Facing garbage Crisis; 16.6 Million Metric Tons of Waste This Year Can Fill 99 Philippine Arenas. One News. Retrieved June 06, 2022 from https://www.onenews.ph/articles/phl-facing-garbage-crisis-16-6-million-metric-tons-of-waste-this-year-can-fill-99-philippine-arenas
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