Worksheet 1: Research Topic

Name: MARIA PIA M. SISON

Program: MASTER OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS
Tentative Topic: WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR AN IMPROVED SOLID WASTE
COLLECTION SERVICES OF SELECTED BARANGAYS IN ILIGAN CITY

1. Breaking it down: Determine the words or themes most significant in the research topic. Plug
these terms into the grey boxes (only one concept per box). These terms can begin your list of
keywords used in your searches.

POINT OF
PRODUCTION (E.G
WASTE
WILLINGNESS TO WASTE DISPOSAL HOUSEHOLD,
COLLECTION
PAY (WTP) SERVICES BUSINESS
SERVICES
ESTABLISHMENT,
ETC)

2. Expand it: List other related terms below that may be associated with or used in place of the
above terms.

MAXIMUM TRASH GARBAGE PICK-UP SOURCE OF SOLID

AMOUNT COLLECTION WASTE

3. Time frame: Does your topic encompass a specific era or date range?

Normally, timeframe for writing a thesis depends on the students’ data collection activity. If data is
already in placed, interpretation would follow. In this study, I am willing to start working on this in
my different subjects. So that, when it’s time to enroll thesis writing, it would be easier for me to
collect data because I already have initial data. Thus, date range of this study more or less, is 12-
18 months, including the extension of the program.

4. Is the topic applicable to specific geographic areas?

Yes, the topic is very much applicable in Iligan City since garbage collection and disposal has
become the major problem of the city right now. It is also convenient for me to collect data as I am
also a resident of the city.

5. Is the topic applicable to a specific group?

Since Iligan City is composed of 44 barangays subdivided into coastal, lowland and upland
barangays. I would like to get representative barangays coming from the coastal, lowland and
upland. Since each barangays are also composed of the following: residential, commercial,
industrial and institutional, I would also try not to limit the study to residential only. I would include
in my questionnaire concerned individuals from the residential group, commercial, industrial and
institutional.
6. What is the expected research outcome?

The willingness to pay for an improved solid waste collection service is paramount in sustaining the
funding of solid waste collection services. Therefore, the thrust of this study is to examine how
much is the willingness to pay of the residents, commercial or business operators, industry and
institution to have an improved solid waste collection since not all parts of the barangay are being
visited by the garbage truck. This study would bring light to the local government unit for a policy
implementing a fee for a 2 times a week collection of “segregated solid wastes”.

7. Choose one to be your main research statement/question. (Why or How questions are best.)

The following are the research statement of the study:

a) To know the method of disposal method (dump in drain, dump in backyard, dump in dustbin,
dump by roadside or empty lot, no fixed method, etc) of the residents, commercial/business
establishments, industries and different institutions (i.e. academe) Iligan City.
b) Existing situation of solid waste management and collection
c) Frequency of Waste Collection
d) Level of Satisfaction of Waste Collection
e) Determinants of the willingness to pay among the respondents (socioeconomic and
demographic profile: i.e. age, sex, marital status, family type (nuclear or joint), family size,
monthly average household expenditure, educational status, ethnicity, occupation of the
household head, household income, house ownership…)
f) The willingness to pay for an improved garbage collection

8. State the provisional title of your research.

WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES IN BARANGAY

POBLACION, ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

This study aims to determine the willingness to pay solid waste management services in
Barangay Poblacion, Iligan City, Philippines.

Specifically it aims to

1. Formulate a scheme for payment for solid waste collection services

2. Account for the level of awareness on solid waste collection issues and regulations
3. Ascertain the willingness to pay for solid waste collection services
4. Determine the factors influencing the willingness to pay in terms of
4.1 Demographic factors
4.2 Socio-economic
4.3 Level of awareness on solid waste collection issues and regulations