CHAPTER VI

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary
This study examined conditions of Municipality P and perceived compliance of Company AB with solid waste management laws in Municipality P, South Cotabato. As a condition that is presumed to affect the residents and environment of Municipality P, the solid waste management of Company AB is described as a basic component of its profile. Perceived effects on the residents were determined by comparing their conditions before and during the operation of Company AB. In the same way, perceived effects on the environment were examined by comparing the physical and biological conditions of Municipality P before and during the operation of Company AB. To provide support to the findings on perceived effects in residents and environments, Company ABs performance effectiveness in implementing the relevant provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law of 2000, particularly the mandated techniques and prohibited acts. Providing context of the study are the descriptions of the general profile of Municipality P, features of Company AB and the socio-demographic profiles of respondents and key informants. It further explored the problems which Company AB encountered in solid waste management alongside recommended measures which could serve as empirical basis for future policy actions to enhance the Companys solid waste management This study is a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a oneshot case study, a pre-experimental design. Utilizing a structured questionnaire as the main data gathering instrument supplemented by secondary sources and observation, this study involved thirty four (34) respondent residents and five (5) key informants. The respondents were purposively chosen from among the residents who have lived in Municipality P. There are thirty nine (39) subjects of this study, thirty four (34) of which are randomly selected residents of Municipality P and five (5) selected key informants including two (2) retired employees and three (3) current employees of Company AB. In the light of the conceptual-theoretical framework of the study, data were analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative

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techniques include descriptive statistics and the nonparametric test of difference- MannWhitney test. Thematic approach was utilized in analyzing qualitative data.

Wastes Generated by Company AB

Company AB basically produces and processes pineapples both for local and international markets. Its wastes, therefore, mainly consist of pineapple peels, pineapple pulp, asparagus cuttings, empty pesticide containers, sugar bags, plastic drums, waste water and other hazardous wastes. Whether these wastes have been properly managed could be inferred from the description of the Companys solid waste management system alongside the current overall conditions of health, income, and social relationships among residents, and the current environmental condition of Municipality P, particularly its physical and biological aspects.

Solid Waste Management System of Company AB

The solid waste management system that the company AB has put in place is one that could be characterized as consistent with the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law of 2000, based on the data generated from key informants who are all currently employed in the company. It implements the basic processes involved in managing solid waste, which include these stages: formulation of corporate management plan, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of its solid waste management plan. It provides the necessary financial and other material requirements. Its solid waste management program takes into consideration measures and safeguards against pollution, towards preserving the natural ecosystem. On the whole, Company AB operation has been found to have adversely affected the health of the respondents, despite the medical clinics and hospitals which the company has established, their health condition has worsened. Air pollution coming from Company AB operation has been among the factors which respondents have attributed for the deterioration of their health with Company AB operation, they have been deprived of breathing the fresh air that they used to have, especially during wet days when air smells foul due to the water waste treatment pond. One factors may affect too, is the residents lifestyle, the food that they are choosing to eat every day, and the residents nature of work in the company.

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Respondents, however, recognized the benefits that Company AB has afforded them. Among these is the provision of employment to the local residents right in the company, which has subsequently increased their income. Improvement in economic status is very much evident among respondents who were able to acquire higher positions in the company, such as supervisors, superintendent, managers, and even directors. In terms of their social relationships, no significant change has been reported during the Company AB operation. The traditional harmonious relationship they have, among themselves as families, neighbors and other people have been maintained. Whatever change in their social relationship has been viewed positively, since change is generally looked at as constant. Though the company planted trees around the dumpsite and yet the residents keep on blaming the company on why there are erosions. Based on the findings, the number of animals is already mitigated comparing the past situation of Municipality P. Production of various agricultural crops for processing, however, requires farm inputs in terms of chemical insecticides and fertilizers that are regularly sprayed on crops to ensure high yields. The farm inputs effect is the soil to become unhealthy and later on becomes eroded. According to the key informants, the unpleasant smell during rainy season is because of the waste water treatment and Company AB is accountable for it; that is why Company AB is doing all things to make any remedies for it. According to our key informants, the local government unit of Municipality P and Company AB has collaborated to implement R.A. 9003 in Municipality P; In addition, Company AB has offered part of its land to LGU in Municipality P in order to have a sanitary landfill. The respondents recommended suggestions of the respondents on how to improve Company ABs solid waste management and how to obtain clean surroundings. The respondents have different suggestions on how to improve the solid waste management and especially how to achieve a clean environment. Further, majority or eighteen (18) of the respondents suggested that in order to improve Company ABs solid waste management, it must have a strict implementation of law. for the remaining respondents, fifteen (15) of the respondents suggested that in order to improve Company ABs solid waste

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management, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Health must have a proper orientation or must educate residents of each barangay of Municipality P in segregating, recycling, reusing etc. wastes. While the other four (4) respondents have suggested that people in Municipality P must have proper self discipline in order to improve Company ABs solid waste management.

Extent of Compliance with Relevant Provisions of Ecological Solid Management Law

That the Company has been relatively efficient in implementing its solid waste management system is apparently supported by the findings on assessment of extent of compliance with the provisions of R.A. 9003, with an overall rating of very good. This is seemingly reinforced by the very good ratings that it obtained for compliance with the Laws requirements on the following techniques: segregation, collection and transport, recycling and composting of solid wastes. In a similar way, Company AB has been found to have complied substantially with the Laws prohibitions against certain acts that are detrimental to the environment. Unfortunately, however, the power of the measures that were used in assessing extent of compliance with mandated solid waste management techniques and the prohibited acts may be said to be weak or lacking in efficiency since results have not been proven by statistical tests. Table 18 provides the aggregate mean of Company ABs compliance with prohibited acts which shows that Company AB has seldom practiced forbidden acts in Municipality P. The overall compliance with appropriate solid waste management techniques has been moderately practiced; which means, Company AB fairly complied with proper solid waste management techniques. Further, the overall extent of compliance of Company AB with relevant solid waste management laws is highly practiced. Furthermore, the respondents actual responses with their life before and during the operation of the Company AB in Municipality P from their health, income, social relationships, physical and biological environment of Municipality P and so with the other factor that pertains to the solid waste management have significant differences.

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Conclusion
In determining the current conditions of the residents and the environment of Municipality P as a manifestation of the perceived effects of the operation of Company AB, particularly its solid waste management Mann-Whitney test yielded significant results: for health condition and income of the residents, and current conditions of Municipality P from that before the operation of the company. The residents health condition and current conditions of Municipality P have deteriorated even as the income has increased significantly during the operation of Company AB. The null hypothesis is rejected and the corresponding alternative hypothesis is accepted that there are significant differences in health condition and income of the residents, and current conditions of Municipality P. Their social relationships however, have not changed since the apparent differences have not been proven significant by statistical test. The null hypothesis is thus accepted. The quantitative assessments of the current residents health, income and social relationship have been supported by the qualitative assessment results. Note, however, that the qualitative assessment of residents health and the physical and biological environments being characterized by deterioration, indicate that these are not only attributed to solid waste generated by Company AB but also to waste water from production process and emissions from agricultural inputs applied in pineapple plants, particularly pesticides and fertilizers and domesticated wastes.. It is of interest to note that Company AB has complied with the mandate of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law of 2000 (R.A. 9003) as evident in the existence of its own solid waste management program that takes into account the consideration in techniques and practices that must be implemented, including among other things proper segregation, collection and transport, recycling and composting. It likewise observes the restrictions which the Law imposes against acts that jeopardize the life support systems. This implies that Company ABs operational activities and practices are in keeping with the requirement of the sustainable development paradigm that economic processes and production practices and technologies must be founded on principles that are resource base protectionist at the same time conservational.

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Recommendation
In the light of the findings and limitations of the study the following recommendations are advanced for future studies, policy action and other forms of practical utilization particularly by the community.

For Future Research

1.)Studies on solid wastes management must use qualitative research design to be able to holistically examine the deeper insights of the whole range of solid waste management techniques and practices of the company. 2.)A similar study may be done to fully determine the elements of liquid waste and how this has affected the residents on the environment of Municipality P.

Policy Action
1. The LGU must create a municipal council resolution requiring the closure of the existing Company AB open dumpsite and require a sanitary landfill instead. 2. The LGU and DENR must require Company AB to conduct an environmental impact assessment of how its operation and waste management has affected the people and the environment of host communities. This must be done with the active participation of the stakeholders using a multi-disciplinary and multi-method approach. 3. The LGU and NGOs must pursue a program on waste management education and training for students as they would be our countrys leaders for tomorrow. 4. The LGUs waste management education program must be carried jointly by the LGU, NGOs and the school in both urban and rural communities 5. The LGU must strictly enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law and impose legal sanctions or penalty in those found guilty of violation.

For the Community

of proper solid waste management based on R.A. 9003

1.) Findings of this study can provide further insights among residents in the benefits

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2.) Other groups may be guided by the findings of this study in developing their respective waste management system consistent with the provisions of R.A. 9003

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