Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003

Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter presents the problem and its setting. It included the introduction, objective

of the study and significance of the study. The conceptual framework that served as the basis for

the conduct of the study; scope and limitation, and definition of terms are also included on this

section.

Introduction and Background of the Study

A solid waste is defined as any discarded material from residential, commercial,

industrial, mining and agricultural activities that causes environmental problems. Solid waste

management comprises of systematic control of the generation, storage, collection, separation,

treatment, processing, recycling, recovery and disposal of solid wastes. Solid waste can come

from industrial, commercial, mining, or agricultural operations, and from household and

community activities. Solid waste encompasses the highly heterogeneous mass discarded

materials or throwaway from the urban community as well as the more homogenous

accumulation of wastes generated by agriculture and industrial activities.

Substances from municipal waste not only cause soil pollution of disposal site but also

may contaminate nearby surface and groundwater resources. In addition, they can put human and

wildlife health at risk. Solid wastes was the major source of coastal ecosystems pollution, which

entered to these ecosystems from various ways, for example it is one of most visited area for

tourists and the waste from their activity is one of these ways.

Around 80 percent of sea pollution around the world is from land source, the other 20

percent is from sea source. This was a widespread problem which affects large area like harbors,

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

rivers mouth and coastal towns. Waste in coastal area deformed beautiful seaside landscape

moreover the degradation rate of wastes such as plastic is slow because of high levels of ground

water and humidity, and it may take over 300 years or more (Mojtaba, et al., 2013).

Waste management in coastal area was the first and most important step to maintained

these areas sanitary, cleaning up and keep the ecosystem alive. The management of solid waste

continued to be a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world, but particularly in the

rapidly growing cities and towns of the developing World. Urban areas in Asia produced

approximately 0.76 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day in 1998, which is

expected to rise to 1.8 million tons by 2025. Keeping pace with the requirements of rapid

economic development and continuing population growth, and because of its critical role in

protecting the environment and public health, accomplishing effective and efficient municipal

solid waste management should be a priority for cities of the developing countries. (Jin J, 2006)

It has been reported by Dela Corte (2005) that in the Philippines solid waste generation

became alarming due to the limited areas by which these wastes could be safely disposed and

according to Vila (2018), the Philippines ranked third as the worst polluter into the world’s

ocean. It follows Indonesia and China that contributed 1.88 million tons of mismanaged plastic

wastes. These plastic wastes cluttering the ocean include sachet, bags, bottle labels and straw.

According to Hickman (2003), public indifference is considered one of the factors that

contribute to solid waste problem and issues in the community. People tend not to show care on

the possible effects of improper solid waste management practices due to absence of proper solid

waste management system, worsening the solid waste management of the municipality, most of

the households solid waste generated in coastal areas practice burning of waste and buried it in

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

the sand because of the lack of garbage collection within the coast. However, this can also harm

the environment as well as the ocean and can contribute on the thinning of the ozone layer that

may aid in rampant global warming and destroying marine life. In addition, commercial

establishments such as resorts and municipal residences also contribute on the scattering of solid

waste. People tend to dump their garbage in a non-orderly manner thus cluttering the streets and

waterways.

The problems mentioned above, lead the researchers to study the case of solid waste

management system in the Municipality of Balayan, Batangas especially in the coastal area of

three selected barangay. This study provided pertinent information on proper waste management

and as an output, proponents of this study improved the existing solid waste management system

that comply with the rules and regulations of Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

(RA 9003).

The map of Batangas province showing the location of Balayan was shown on Figure 1.

Sources: Google Map Satellite

Figure 1. Map of Batangas Province Showing Location of Balayan

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

Balayan is located at geographic coordinates 14 °53 latitude and 120 °43 longitudes. It is

bounded on the north by the municipality of Tuy; on the east by municipality of Calaca; on the

south by the Balayan Bay and on the west by the municipality of Calatagan and Lian.

The municipal center of Balayan is situated at approximately 13°57 North, 120°44 East,

in the island of Luzon. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 23.0 meters or 75.6 feet

above mean sea level. Balayan Bay is a large bay of Luzon Island in the Philippines. It is

between 23 to 28 kilometers (14-17mi) wide. It is separated from the South China Sea to the

west Calatagan Peninsula, which has Cape Santiago as its southern point. The Calumpang

Peninsula forms the bay’s eastern side that separates it from Batangas Bay. The following

municipalities line the bay from west to east are Calatagan, Balayan, Calaca, Lemery, Taal, San

Luis, Bauan and Mabini. Balayan is a small community in Philippines having about 830

inhabitants per square kilometre and has six resorts along the coastal. The map of the three target

coastal barangays in Balayan, Batangas was shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Map of Coastal Area of Balayan outlining the coverage

of three target Barangays (red line)
Balayan, Batangas has composed of 48 barangays and 9 of those are coastal barangays.

The selected coastal barangays are brgy. 4, brgy. 10 and brgy. Navotas.

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
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Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

The issue of waste disposal and management in coastal areas of Balayan Bay is a serious

concern because the municipality has a lack of attention of proper solid waste management in

coastal areas that complies with RA 9003. At present, the municipality has no present collection

system of waste in coastal areas. Waste collectors or truck collectors are not evident in the

municipality thus, individual houses along the coast tend to be disposed solid waste just

everywhere, cluttering on seaside.

The researchers visited the Binangbang River located in Barangay 4, Balayan, Batangas.

The researchers observed that the river is one of the major issues on Solid Waste Management of

coastal area in Balayan Batangas. The current condition of a river is shown in figure 3 below.

Figure 3. Improper disposal of waste was observed in the Binangbang River

The figure 3 shows the current condition of the Binangbang River, wherein some

residents in Barangay 4 and other neighboring barangay (Munting tubig, Lanatan, Caloocan,

Canda, Santol, Brgy.3, Brgy.2, Brgy.1 and Brgy. Navotas) disposing their generated waste by

letting the waste to be carried by the Binangbang River that ends up in the Balayan Bay.

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
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Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

The waste materials were dumped along the coastal areas majority of waste are onsite

brought by the waves from unknown places and the others are from the residences of the

barangay near the coastal area and river. The figure below shows the name of barangays

connected to the river.

Sources: https://www.freemaptools.com/measure-distance.htm
Figure 4. Location of the river in balayan and the covered barangays

Brgy. Navotas, Brgy.4, Brgy.11, Brgy. Santol, Caloocan, Magabe, Lanatan and Brgy.

Munting Tubig are the Barangays connected to the river that are possible source of waste

collected in the coastal area. The river is 10.8km long starting at the coastal area.

Last February 19, 2019 the researchers visit the coastal area of the three barangays for

site inspection. It shows in figures below the present condition of Barangay 10, Barangay 4 and

Barangay Navotas.

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
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Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

Figure 5. Coastal area of Brgy. 10 Figure 6. Coastal area of Brgy. 4

Figure 7. Coastal area of Brgy. Navotas

(Date captured: February 19, 2019)

Based on the residents, there is no solid waste collection system near the coastal area that

leads the residents to practice improper disposal of waste that can be seen at figure 5, figure 6,

and figure 7. Upon inspection open dumping and open burning were widely practiced in the area.

Most of the residents created their own pit for dumping. Disposed wastes in the pit are not

segregated and upon accumulation the waste is burned. There were no signage and posters found

in the coastal that will spread awareness and knowledge about promulgation of solid waste

management ordinances.

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess the compliance in RA 9003 of the three

barangays in the coastal area to identify the source of the problems and provide a

recommendation for the improvement of each barangays. Specifically, this study aims:

1. To assess the current status of solid waste management practices in Coastal areas of three

Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003 in terms of:

1.1. On site solid waste

1.2. Segregation

1.3. Collection

1.4. Transfer and Transport

1.5. Processing and recovery

1.6. Disposal

2. To conduct Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) and determine the

compliance to RA 9003 or “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”.

3. To recommend action plan to improve the solid waste management system.

Significance of the Study

The study evaluated the present condition of solid waste management in Coastal Area of

Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas. The study is expected to benefit different concerned

groups.

This study will provide information to the local government of Balayan Batangas with

regards to the possible actions that will make a safe and healthy environment and importance of

sustaining solid waste management. This study will also give awareness to the residents of

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

Balayan about the current conditions of solid waste management in their barangay. It will give

them the idea of the possible results that will make a big improvement in their community. This

will also help the Sanitary Engineering students in Batangas State University to the development

of their ability as future engineer it can give them insights of what will be their future career and

also to the future researchers who will conduct a related study in the future that can serve as a

reference material in their research.

Scope and Delimitation

The study discussed the current condition of solid waste management system in coastal

area of three barangays in Balayan, Batangas.

Among the 48 barangays in the municipality, only three barangays were subjected on the

study because the 9 barangays located in coastal areas had been observed to have a proper

management of waste in their coastal area while the rest of the barangays are not situated in

coastal area of Balayan. The coastal area of other barangays has a proper waste management

(See Appendix E) for evidences. The number of respondents was computed by using the slovin’s

formula with 9.95% margin of error. Slovin’s formula is the most common used formula in

deriving the sample size of a given population. It tends to break down the larger amount of the

population, to a smaller number that will serve as sample of the chosen target market (Calderon

2006). Waste Analysis and Characterization Survey (WACS) was performed to gather data

needed for the study.

The output of the study is to recommend action plan to improve the existing Solid Waste

Management of the subjected barangays and to raise awareness for the both local government of

Balayan, Batangas and its people about the on-going issues and concerns on solid waste

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
Chapter I
Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

management in their coastal areas. However, the implementation of the study and other

barangays is beyond the scope of the study.

Definition of Terms

This section presents the terms used in this study. These help the readers understand how

these words were used operationally and lexically.

Biodegradable Waste. These are wastes capable of being converted usually by bacteria

and other microorganisms, into basic elements. Most of organic waste such as food remains and

papers are biodegradable in suitable environment (Nemerow, 2009).

Composting. It refers to the controlled decomposition of organic matter by micro-

organisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, into a humus-like product (RA 9003).

Garbage. It is an older term that is often used interchangeably with the newer term food

waste (Nemerow, 2009).

Generation. It refers to the act or process of producing solid waste (RA 9003).

Materials Recovery Facility. It includes a solid waste transfer station or sorting station,

drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility (RA 9003).

Recycling. This is a resource recovery method involving the collection and treatment of

waste product for use as raw material in the manufacture of the reuse or new produce (Nemerow,

2009).

Recyclable Material. It refers to any waste material retrieved from the waste stream and

free from contamination that can still be converted into suitable beneficial use or for other

purposes, including, but not limited to, newspaper, ferrous scrap metal, non-ferrous scrap metal,

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
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Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

used oil, corrugated cardboard, aluminum, glass, office paper, tin cans and other materials as

may be determined by the Commission (RA 9003).

Re-use. It refers to the process of recovering materials intended for the same or different

purpose without the alteration of physical and chemical characteristics (RA 9003).

Segregation. It refers to a solid waste management practice of separating different

materials found in solid waste in order to promote recycling and reuse of resources and to reduce

the volume of waste for collection and disposal (RA 9003).

Solid Waste. It refers to all discarded household, commercial waste, nonhazardous

institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agriculture waste, and

other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste (RA 9003).

Solid Waste Management. It refers to the discipline associated with the control of

generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in

a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering,

conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations, and that is also responsive to

public attitudes (RA 9003).

Special Wastes. It refers to household hazardous wastes such as paints, thinners,

household batteries, lead-acid batteries, spray canisters and the like. These include wastes from

residential and commercial sources that comprise of bulky wastes, consumer electronics, white

goods, yard wastes that are collected separately, batteries, oil, and tires. These wastes are usually

handled separately from other residential and commercial wastes (RA 9003).

Storage. It refers to the interim containment of solid waste after generation and prior to

collection for ultimate recovery or disposal (RA 9003).

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Compliance Assessment of SWMS in Coastal Area of Three Barangays in Balayan, Batangas to RA 9003
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Ang, N.F.T., Capili, J.C.G., Magbanlag, L.J.N., Maligaya, K.S.B. The Problem and its Background

Transfer Stations. It refers to those facilities utilized to receive solid wastes, temporarily

store, separate, convert, or otherwise process the materials in the solid wastes, or to transfer the

solid wastes directly from smaller to larger vehicles for transport (RA 9003).

WACS. Waste Analysis and characterization survey. In this study, it is the process used

by the researchers to determine and analyze the waste generated and disposed of within the

dumpsite (EcoGov Project 2011).

Acronyms

This section presents the various acronyms that were defined to better understand the

context of the study

MENRO Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office

DA Department of Agriculture

DENR Department of Environmental and National Resources

DILG Department of Interior and Local Government

LGSWMP Local Government Solid Waste Management Plan

LGU Local Government Units

MRF Material Recovery Facility

SW Solid Waste

SWM Solid Waste Management

WACS Waste Analysis and Characterization Survey

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