Solid Waste Management is all about the process in which trash, particularly solid wastes, were collected, segregated, and disposed of in the right manner. Lots of garbage may come from households, schools, industries, markets, hospitals, other facilities or establishments, and other places. Rules and regulations are also imposed in order to be observed and monitored. It is important for us to be knowledgeable about this because it cannot just prevent any harm or threat to ourselves but also it can save our environment which is the main source of our living.
In the Philippines, the Solid Waste Management issue is still one of the major problems that we are currently facing. According to the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO) report in 2016, the country’s waste generated was continuously rising from 37,427.46 tons per day in 2012 to 40,087.45 tons per day. This means that as time passes by, our problem in the said issue is really alarming and should be prioritized.
Barangay Pio Cruzcosa is one of the barangays in the Municipality of Calumpit, province of Bulacan. It is also one of the barangays that is currently encountering the Philippines’ major problem in solid waste management which needs to be talked about and taken action immediately. Due to the results that have been shown in my blog entry 1 and 2, this issue is really the main problem that is destroying the environment as well as the lifestyle of the people.
It is a must for this topic to be addressed for the welfare and development of our barangay. Furthermore, from the total of 4,663 citizens in the said barangay according to the 2020 census, some voices have been heard, including the barangay officials about the challenges and their opinions in addressing the said issue.
Citizen’s Viewpoint: Complaints based on Experience
According to Mrs. Maribel Pacioles, a 50-year-old vendor and a citizen in Purok 1 Pio Cruzcosa, Calumpit, Bulacan. The collection of waste is consistent in their place but the announcements are not reaching out to their area which is why she is not aware of the implementation of solid waste management. But then, she is still segregating their wastes from biodegradable to non-biodegradable.
She also added that the announcement about the collection of waste should be reassured to prevent also a waste of time for the citizens and also not cause additional problems like dogs scattering other left garbage on the roads that may result in an accident for those riders.
Full video of the interview:
The same question was asked to a 21-year-old university student and a citizen of Purok 2 Pio Cruzcosa, Calumpit, Bulacan, Ms. Kim Alcaraz. According to her, she is aware and she is knowledgeable about solid waste management which she also points out that recycling is also encompassed in the topic. Unlike the first respondent, she said that local government officials are always reminding them about proper segregation, and based on their experience, the collection of waste has consistency.
As a recommendation, Ms. Alcaraz said that the community should focus more on implementing the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) which can help to resolve the problem of solid waste.
Full video of the interview:
Moreover, Ms. Baby Carla Urbano, a 19-year-old student, and citizen of Barangay Pio Cruzcosa also stated that she is aware of solid waste management and part of it is segregation and the 3Rs. But then, she said that there is no consistency in the collection of waste. Also, she stated that the announcement is not reaching out to their areas.
Due to this, citizens like them are not aware of when they will prepare and ready their wastes outside to be collected by the eco-boy.
Ms. Urbano added that in order for the problem to be gone, the next officials should plan to spread awareness and education to every citizen.
Full video of the interview:
The last citizen respondent, Ms. Sophia Bautista, a college student and a citizen of Pio Cruzcosa said that she is also aware of the implementation of the Solid Waste Management. But then, in their place, she said that the collection of waste is every Saturday and it is consistent. Moreover, the barangay officials are reminding them on the day before the collection of the garbage in their area. As a suggestion, she asserted that adding more megaphones for the announcement will be a big help and the collection should be done in M-W-F.
To sum it up, some areas have been left behind in terms of the collection of waste and there is no consistency in collecting in other places. Other citizens are still not aware of solid waste management and they should be informed as well.
The voice of the citizens are crucial to creating an action plan in a community since they also have the best solution suggestions.
Garbage Cleaner’s Viewpoint: Existing Water Irrigation Issue
I had a chance to interview Mr. Peter Matic, a 52-year-old citizen, one of the barangay tanods, and a garbage cleaner in the irrigation site of Barangay Pio Cruzcosa. He is cleaning the water irrigation site for almost 4 years.
According to him, one of the major results of the improper implementation of Solid Waste Management is that people are already throwing their garbage in the irrigation site. He said that some trash he always gets are diapers, plastics of mixed garbage, and rotten animals.
Mr. Matic added that he already got a tetanus infection when cleaning the irrigation site. However, he did not get any support in the barangay which is his choice. Moreover, as a barangay tanod, he has a health card that is applicable in the Calumpit District for free check-ups and medication.
Full video of the interview:
People like him should be also heard because what they are doing for the barangay is such an honor and has a big impact on the community's growth.
Councilor’s Viewpoint: Plan, Act, Solve!
I had a chance to interview four councilors in Barangay Pio Cruzcosa who are assigned to different committees. They are from committees of environment, health, education, and infrastructure. All of them gave a variety of answers and opinions on how we can resolve our problem of waste immediately.
Environment Head: Discipline of People
Councilor Mildred Tamayo first states that the main reason why solid waste management problems exist is that some citizens do not have discipline themselves. Also, this main reason causes another problem in terms of the said issue.
Moreover, she stated that the barangay already made an action about the problem by informing the citizens about the laws and regulations implemented.
In addition, as an assigned environment councilor, she stated that the best solution to be made should be buying an additional lot that can accommodate all the garbage of the barangay and a place for the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Also, she points out that another solution would be disciplining and teaching the citizens about proper waste segregation to have a progressive community.
Full video of the interview:
Health Head: Improper Implementation
Councilor Perlita Culala also mentioned that citizens do not have discipline in properly segregating the garbage. So, the barangay should have unity in order to achieve its end goal.
She added that Mother Leaders before are conducting a house to house to survey the proper waste segregation but does not meet anymore because of the lack of communication.
However, the barangay officials still regulate other actions like collaborating with the Municipality of Calumpit in collecting waste on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
As an assigned health councilor, she knew that there is a threat to the health of the citizens of improper waste implementation of Solid Waste Management, especially since some people are throwing their garbage in the water irrigation.
Full video of the interview:
Education Head: Throwing the Garbage of the Other Barangays
Councilor Vergilio Catanghal explained that the problem in waste management has been clearly seen in the irrigation canal. Other barangays are also throwing their garbage in the irrigation site and have drifted into the Barangay Pio Cruzcosa.
As a part of an action, he said that the barangay has a metal filter at the end of the irrigation site and the garbage cleaners are the ones who are clearing and bringing it to the eco-center. Also, he mentioned that there are some trashcans provided. He added that there is a collector from our barangay and our municipality who is consistently accumulating solid wastes.
Full interview video:
Infrastructure Head: Meeting for the Council
Councilor Diosdado Laquindanum said that the main problem in the issue is that sometimes, the left garbage outside the households is scattered on the road. But then, the eco-boy is still collecting the waste.
He also asserted that the fund allotted for waste management is enough to accommodate and make an action for it.
Nonetheless, he said that the problem will not be resolved if there is only one person who will make action but instead, the whole elected barangay officials should collaborate with each other in order to have a developed community.
Full video of the interview:
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, the problem in solid waste management has been clearly seen by all the citizens of Pio Cruzcosa, Calumpit, Bulacan. There were variations of experiences that have been seen from the point of view of the normal citizens in which the problem has really had an effect on their lives.
Moreover, the barangay officials have been challenged to do their best to combat this kind of problem in the community. They have the responsibilities and obligations promised as elected public servants.
Additionally, what I can say is that wastes are really part of our lives. Anywhere, and everywhere we can always encounter it. But then, as good citizens, we should be disciplined not just for ourselves but also for the environment where we are getting all our necessities to live to the fullest and for the next generations.
Reference:
Mawis, S. M. D. (2019, May 18). Solid waste mismanagement in the Philippines. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://business.inquirer.net/270819/solid-waste-mismanagement-in-the-philippines
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