INTRODUCTION

Local government officials in five towns, including Guinobatan, and a city

have been ordered to close their illegal dumps due to not implementing Republic
Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in the past 15 years [1].
The law states that no open dumps shall be established and operated, nor any
practice or disposal of solid waste by any person, including LGUs, which
constitutes the use of open dumps for solid wastes [2].

Open dumping is the simplest and inexpensive method of waste disposal.

It served the purpose of keeping waste separated from the populace, hence
limiting exposure to disease vectors, as well as odor and other direct effects. It is
widely used in developing countries because of its easy operation. But with the
increase of population, so is the increase of waste and separation of waste
becomes minimal and often the trash is mixed and its purpose is neglected. This
poses threat to the municipality, mainly to its health. Open dumpsites have no
planning (such as location sensitivity) or engineering measures (such as liner
system) have been implemented prior to placement of waste [3]. This poses
serious effects in the community, two of which are health and environmental
effects. In order to protect the environment and to assure better public health and
safety, open dumps have not been permitted in developed countries for the last
30 years at least. They have been replaced completely by engineered sanitary
landfills and complimented with other waste disposal technologies and methods
[4].

The research setting was Guinobatan, located at 13°11′N 123°36′E. It was

chosen because it was mentioned as one of the five towns ordered to close its
open dump. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has
a land area of 244.43 square kilometers (94.37 sq mi) constituting 9.49% of the
2,575.77-square-kilometre- (994.51 sq mi) total area of Albay [5]. The existing
municipal dumpsite of Guinobatan is located at barangay Doña Mercedes, eight
(8) kilometers away from the Poblacion. It occupies an area of about 10,000.00
square meters [6]. According to the municipal engineer, Engr. Felix O. dela Cruz
Jr., the dumpsite hosts about 12 tons of garbage per day, about ½ kilograms per
person. With the closure of the dumpsite, it raises questions prior to the effects of
the order mentioned earlier. This paper therefore sought to present findings of a
study carried out in Guinobatan municipal area in Albay to determing the socio-
economic and environmental impact of the now closed open dump site at Doña
Mercedes on its surrounding human settlement. The findings presented could be
0f relevance for many towns and cities facing the same problem and the waste

management researchers.
 Figure 2 Land Use Map of Guinobatan

METHODOLOGY
This study covered Doña Mercedes dump site in Guinobatan, Albay. The
study is aimed at identifying the socio-economic: educational level of the
residents settling around the dump site and their employment status, and
environmental impact of the closed dump site on the human settlement around
the said open dump. We collected data for this study from both primary and
secondary sources to present the findings on the socio-economic and
environmental impacts caused by the closure of the Doña Mercedes dump site.
Firstly, the researchers involved desk study of secondary data wherein
documents and records relating to appropriate data sources including books,
journals, newspapers, and activities both published and unpublished were
studied to obtain background information on the socio-economic and
environmental impact of the closed dump site. And secondly, the researchers
conducted interviews with the persons involved, residents and the officials. The
researchers interviewed a selected sample size of 50 residents and collected
information about their employment status and educational level. Information
obtained was used to update the data collected during the desk study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The researchers studied two socio-economic characteristics of the
residents settling around the Doña Mercedes dump site. This is probably
because employment as a source of income may depend on the level of
education. Table 1 shows the data obtained by the researchers with regards to
the educational attainment of the selected sample size. Figure 1 shows the
employment status of the selected respondents.

Table 1. Educational Levels of Respondents

Educational Level Quantity

Primary Level 33
Secondary Education 14
Higher Education 3
TOTAL 50

Employment Status of Respondents Quantity

24%

6%

70%

Employed Unemployed Self-Emplyed

Figure 3 Employment Status of the Respondents

 Majority of the respondents only attained primary level of education and
are mostly self-employed, embarking on small scale agricultural gardening as a
source of income and livelihood. This indicates that the respondents make their
living by cultivating the land for crops. From the observations of the researchers,
there are some, children at most, that collect wastes from the dump site to make
a living. They collect cans, metallic objects, plastics, and other products in order
to sell them and make their living.

With regards to the environmental impacts of the dumpsite to the residents

around it, majority of the residents indicate that the dumpsite is the breeding
place for disease vectors, causes diseases, and makes the place dirty. The site
is also near creeks that could contaminate the water. This causes illnesses like
chest pains, irritation of the nose, skin, and eyes.

However, measures are taken up to make sure that the community and
the municipality is protected from the dumpsite and the waste disposed of in
general. The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, headed by
Mrs. Ma. Elena Paclibar-Sales, has already devised action plans to the waste
disposal and management of the whole town. They also have already laid out a
plan to construct a sanitary landfill on Barangay Malobago. The site is currently
under the process of intervention by scientific institution like soil testing and other
requirements, as well as feasibility studies assessments and social acceptance
of the project. As mentioned by the Eco Management Staff, Mr. Misael R.
Olaguer, coming from the person who conducted the assessment, there is a 90%
possibility of the site to pass the requirements because there are no water sheds,
creeks and tributaries affected. The officials of the MENRO also formulate a plan
to segregate and make use of waste into economical asset. The only waste to be
collected would be plastics and they advertise the conversion of plastic waste
into bricks, and broken branches and twigs from the aftermath of natural
disasters as charcoal/ coal bricks. The plastics will be shredded and be used as
binders for the concrete, making pathway bricks and garden use. This is to
reduce the production of plastic waste. The charcoal will be made and be used
as alternative use of fuel when disasters strike, they could also be mass produce
for market consumption. Other wastes, such as biodegradable waste, will be
collected per barangay and would be disposed to compost pits. They would
implement that every barangay would have compost pits for the said wastes and
be used as fertilizer. All their programs are anchored to climate change
adaptation.

Figure 4: Plastic Concrete Bricks

Sample

Figure 5: Coal
Bricks Sample
Figure 6: Implementation Activities of MENRO
Figure 7: (Left) Mrs. Ma. Elena Paclibar-Sales, OIC MENRO. (Right) Mr. Misael R. Olaguer,
Eco Management Staff

CONCLUSION
Results from the analysis of data revealed that the open dumpsite located
on Doña Mercedes has a significant impact on the residents around it. Without
any covers to rid off rodents and other pests, it carries sickness on the
community, especially those living near it. As well as scavenging residents face
similar fate because of direct contact with the waste. The closure of the dump
site sparks new ways for the official to manage the municipal waste into
something that both benefits the community and environment.

REFERENCES

[1] Amo, C., & Punongbayan, M. (2016, October 14). Close illegal dumps,
Albay LGUs told. Retrieved from The Philippine Star:
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/10/14/1633288/close-illegal-dumps-
albay-lgus-told
[2] Republic Act 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Chapter III,
Article 5, Section 37. Retrieved from: http://www.emb.gov.ph/wp-
ontent/uploads/2015/09/RA-9003.pdf/
[3] International Solid Waste Association, I. S. (2007). Closing of Open Dumps.
[4] Mavropoulos, A., Cohen, P., Greedy, D., Plimakis, S., Marinheiro, L., Law,
J., & Loureiro, A. (2016). A Roadmap for Closing Waste Dumpsites. Page
19
[5] Guinobatan, Albay. (2017, February 17). Retrieved from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinobatan,_Albay
[6] Demography. (n.d.). Retrieved from Guinobatan: http://guinobatan.gov.ph/?
page_id=74818

Republic of the Philippines

Bicol University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Legazpi City, Albay

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMETAL IMPACT OF THE DOÑA
MERCEDES DUMP SITE AT
GUINOBATAN, ALBAY

Submitted to:

Engr. Anna G. Bilaro

Professor

Submitted by:

Janica Cassandra P. Jesalva

Mary Joy O. Paulate
Griego Angelo Guerrero
Ace A. Dacuno
Adrian B. Lobos
Jesus C. Guillermo Jr.
Rex B. Cañezal

BSCE 5-A