A Case Study on Environmental Science and Engineering for Siargao Island/City

Submitted by
Bawar, Shemariah Gwen T.

18 April 2020
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page no.
Title Page ............................................................................................................ I

Table of Contents ............................................................................................... 2

Background Information ..................................................................................... 3

Plants, animals, ecosystems ................................................................................ 4

Status of environmental pollution ....................................................................... 6

Impact of pollution to the environment and human beings................................. 8

Efforts by the government in addressing pollution problems ............................. 9

Analysis on the adequacy of government actions ............................................... 10

Recommendations on what technology and other management approaches ...... 11

should be applied to address the gaps

Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 12

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. 12

References ........................................................................................................... 14

Annex A .............................................................................................................. 16

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Siargao Island is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometers
southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte, northeastern Mindanao. It has a land
area of approximately 437 square kilometres (169 sq mi) and its coordinate at 9°54′18″N
126°4′0″E. The highest elevation in the island is 352m at Mount Alimbungog. The neighboring
islands and islets have similar landforms. The island is composed of the municipalities of
Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Santa Monica and
Socorro.Long stretches of wetlands indicate a potential for commercial seaweed propagation. It
contains the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, at Del Carmen town. Siargao Island
contains one of the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, covering an area of 4,871
hectares in Del Carmen. In 2015 census, the population of Siargao Island is 94,273.
Tha main driver of the economy of Siargao island is the beaches in the island. It is well
known as "the Surfing Capital of the Philippines" with a reputation among surfers within the
Philippines and the International scene. The island's Pacific-facing reefs are situated on the edge
of the Philippine Trench, and the extremely deep offshore waters assure the ocean swells have
undiluted power when they encounter the many coral and rock reefs. Siargao has excellent
surfing conditions, particularly during the southwest "habagat" monsoon from August to
November, when the prevailing wind is offshore.
Surfing is the main attraction in Siargao. It all started way back in 1980 when two
foreigners, Tony Arruza and Steve Jones, came to the island during their search for the “perfect
wave.” They apparently found it within the municipality of General Luna, and called it “Jacking
Horse.” Their perfect wave is actually what most people today know as Cloud 9. Until now,
Siargao was known for its waves that couldn’t be compared elsewhere.
At that time, Siargao hadn’t become a popular tourist destination yet. For a while it was
still under the radar, only known to a few surfers who looked for it. Among them was a surfer
named Max Walker, who was known to have established a lot of surfing camps around Southeast
Asia before he died. This paved the way to more and more people hearing about Siargao.
Now, many business have opened in the island and building of resorts are most of the
investment made by the businessman.

Figure 1. Island of Siargao Figure 2. Surfing ( main attraction)

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PLANTS, ANIMALS, ECOSYSTEMS
Siargao Island being known as the surfing capital of the Philippines have many beaches.
The coastline is marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white, sandy beaches. Several
coral reefs, offsore islands, and sand bars are also found.

Figure 3. The Cloud Nine surf point on Siargao Island in the Philippines
Cloud 9 was known for its perfect wave that made the Siatgao Island famous. Siargao
Island is greatly influenced by the winds and currents coming uninterrupted from the Pacific
Ocean, intensified by the Mindanao current running westward through the Siargao Strait. The
tide of Siargao is diurnal with352 tidal curves typically present, especially on the east coast of
the island.
Offshore, a classic tropical island lies protected within its surrounding coral reef with
dozens of coconut palms dressed in the center circle of the island. Below, well within the
massive coastal reef, lies a shining white sand bar, (Pansukian, or Naked island) some 200
meters long. Another island in Siargao is Mapupungko island. It is well known for having a
stunning tidal rock pools. There are also falls in the island and also caves.

Figure 4. Naked Island Figure 5. Mapupungko Island

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 There are also cove that can be found in Siargao it is the Suhoton Cove which can be
found in Bucas Grande Island. This odd cove which we think is a residence of goddess,
mermaids, and sylphs can only be accessed in certain conditions. Moreover, it is the home to
hundreds of stingless jellyfish. Siargao is also known for its falls like the Taktak falls.

Figure 6. Suhoton Cove Figure 7. Taktak Falls

In 2016, an Indo-Pacific saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) was found dead. The
body of the specimen measures 4.5 meters (14feet , 9 inches) in the extensive mangrove forests
of the western coast in the Del Carmen area. From this, it can be scene that island can prove
habitat to many species like marine turtles, and the sea cow. Furthermore, The island boasts
an abundance of large game fish such as blue marlin, sail fish, yellow fin tuna, and the tangigue.
It is also known as the home of the Mindanao tarictic, or hornbill (Penelopides affinis); Rufous
hornbill, or Philippine kalaw (Buceros hydrocorax); Philippine magpie-robin (Copsychus
mindanensis); and endemic flora and fauna.
The weather in Siargao most the time is hot and sunny with blue skies over white sand
beaches. The exception is the winter from about December to March when it's the rainy season.
But the rain usually stops for a few hours every day. Night times in Siargao gets a bit cooler than
the day but not by much.

Figure 8. Indo-Pacific saltwater crocodile Figure 9. Marine Turtles

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STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Siargao island is one of the rising tourist spot in the Philippines. The problem in the area
is that many investors are trying to buy property in the island because they see business that will
profit. From tourism, it caused the population to rise and build different infrastructures.
In 2018, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources conducted an
inspection in Siargao and given the fact that it is one of the greatest tourist spot in the Philippines
and many establishment are built. The DENR reported that there’s a lack of sewage and
wastewater treatment facilities and violations included operating with no environmental
compliance certificate.
In 2019, Task Force Siargao of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
conducted again an inspection and found out there are still no proper sewage system on some
dozen of commercial establishment. “Homestay” is a residential unit converted by the local
house-owners for rental purpose to accommodate foreign tourists who seek temporary shelters
with the comfort of a home while spending vacation in the island. The Task Force Siargao found
out that some of the “Homestays” have inadequate sewage system and Some of the houses and
commercial establishments were found to be discharging their water wastes into the creek.
The Task Force Siargao was able to see possible case that will lead to environmental
issues and was able to give early precautions to the residents. In this case, there are possible
threat of pollution in the island. Therefore, if the resident and homestay continue to throw there
will be a possible water pollution in the area.
It has been also reported that there is still no proper landfill, but people are given
ordinance to do proper waste disposal. However, the waste that are being dumped are not being
decomposed and may cause soil pollution and soil waste pollution.

Figure10. Place where the waste are being dumped in Siargao

When the inspection from the government was made, it shows that the main waste is
made from plastic specifically single- used plastic like bottles and sachets. It was reported that
the main polluters are not the foreigners but the domestic tourists.

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 According to Catoto, noise pollution was present in some municipality of the Siargao.
There has been a report that Mad Monkey Siargao, a hostel bar for backpackers and provides
accomodation for the surfers. There has been complaints from the local that down-the-line party-
house business operations caused noise pollution where in people are being distrupt at night.
Moreover, an interview from a local the violations of the business has been told. He said that
unsegregated waste materials dumped at their backyard and the hostel has liquid discharge
whose run off ends up at sea.

Figure11 . Banner from the loacl showing the disturbance of Mad Monkey to them
Therefore, if the locals and tourist continues this behavior the said pollution: soil waste
pollution, water pollution and noise pollution could rise up. Knowning the fact the island is
becoming a rising tourist spot there will be more possible threats to the environment like air
pollution if actions are not being done and laws are not being followed.

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IMPACT OF POLLUTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN BEING
The issue that have an impact to the environment and human being is the rising tourism
in the island. As the people continues to build commercial buildings and structures in the island
it damage the environment because trees and being cut down though the island are still not
overpopulated and over urbanized but this will also have an effect to the people and
environment. According to Abad, a SIPLAS officer fishers who sell will soon suffer from
poverty because as the economy of the island rises it will be hard for them to find job where they
can earn.
Moreover, solid waste pollution is starting to rise in the area and if these continues. The
soil will be contaminated and would cause soil pollution. Furthermore, oceans will be
contaminated by the toxin substance from the waste because it will flow to the ground and run
off to the ocean or bodies of water. As waste are being dumped and no segregation done it could
cause bad smell. The environment is being damage if people will not follow the rule the same as
the risk at their health.
Futhermore, noise pollution in some municipality are present. The local community are
disturbed and problem arises. It said that noise pollution could cause sleep deprivation and when
this happens it could lead to another more diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease,
and stress. Animals are also disturbed causing them to have difficulty in reaching adulthood.

Figure 12. Banner showing the disturbance of the Mad Monkey

Lastly, Soil pollution is one possible pollution that may arise in the Siargao and if not
given a solution these could have an effect to the human health of the residents. Plants and crops
will be contaminated and when eaten by the people it could cause disease.

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EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ADDRESSING POLLUTION PROBLEMS
The Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape pointed out that proper
implementation of law is a must. They are very protected about the sustainability of the island.
Structures are built 40 m away from the shorelines due to high tides. They also reported that
there nowhere to build commercial area and residential area and if people will sell their property,
they will not be able to maintain it. They are also now thinking of ways not to be the same
situation as what happened to Boracay.

It has been recorded from tourism that about 600,000 arrivals from January to July in
year 2018 and the projection show that there will be and increase in the future. Rep. Francisco
Jose F. Matugas II of Surigao del Norte’s 1st District, which covers Siargao, launched the Juan
Effect program to mitigate the impact of tourist arrivals on the environment.

Juan Effect program is a project of Cebu Pacific in partnership with the Department of
Tourism (DoT). The airline and the DoT will collaborate with local stakeholders for specific
environmental conservation action plans. Siargao will be the pilot site of the project, which aims
to promote responsible travel. As of August 2018, the law was implemented in the town of Pilar
and Sta. Monica and starts to coverage it to the main toursit hub of Siargao, town of General
Luna.

Moreover, Mr. Matugas proposed a project to solve the solid waste pollution caused by
plastics by making plastic bottles as eco-bricks. The program aims to transform plastic waste into
building materials for the development of the island and to help provide livelihood for our
citizens. With the support of local government executives from various municipalities, public-
school officials and representatives of non-governmental organizations and LGBT groups the
workshop of doing eco-bricks was conducted in the municipality of General Luna.

Eco-bricks made of used plastic bottles packed tight with used, cleaned and dried plastic
to create building blocks that can be used over and over again. Eco-bricks can also be packed
with other nonbiological wastes that are toxic to the environment.

Lastly, actions are made to solve the pollution caused by Mad Monkey hostel. General
Luna Mayor Cecilia Rusillon ordered temporary to stopped. The hostel deliberately and grossly
violated pertinent environmental laws such as Republic Act 9003 known as Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000, the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System, RA
9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and the municipal ordinances on ecological
solid waste management. She warned other business establishments that are not practicing proper
waste segregation and proper backyard composting.If they resist to the rules their business will
be transfered.In addition, the Mad Monkey addresses the concern of the local community about
the noise pollution by bearing those messages in the tarpulins to serve as reminders.

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ANALYSIS ON THE ADEQUACY OF GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
The preventive solution that the government made to the rising numbers of tourist in the
Siargao island is doing the Juan Effect program of Cebu Pacific. In this program the main
objective is to engage travelers and local stakeholders in raising awareness among Filipinos
about their responsibilities as tourists and encourages them to make a difference by changing one
daily habit.

Juan Effect Program

At first, the program was implemented in small towns but as of 2019 they launched it also
in General Luna the tourist hub of Siargao. It shows that the governement are seriously taking
down actions. They see that it was effective is a small town that is why they try it to General
Luna.

With this program, the foreign and domestic tourist will be educated in terms of
environmetal hazards. DOT’s mandate is centered on creating a culture of sustainable tourism, a
unique mandate to both sell and preserve, to ensure that the beauty of our country remains, while
people get to enjoy a unique Philippine travel experience. However, this program are solely
based if the people will followed and understand it so it will not fully eliminate the pollution but
as time goes by discipline will be taught.

Eco Bricks

Another project that the local government implemented is eco-bricks project. Eco-bricks
are a collaboration powered technology that provides a zero-cost solution for individuals,
households, schools and communities and an exciting way that we can take action today to stop
pollution and start envisioning a healthier way of living with the cycles of life.

With this project, plastic bottles and waste in the beach are eliminated. This is not only to
eliminate the plastic but it also helps to used in constructing buildings. According to the group
Global Ecobrick Alliance, eco-bricks are used to make modular furniture, garden spaces, walls
and even full-scale buildings.

Futhermore,we can say that eco-bricks are very useful in minimizing the solis waste
pollution. It is one of the remarkable ideas that the local government of Siargao implemented.
Not only in minimizing the solid waste but also helps in preventing water pollution.

Closing Business That Violates the Law

Lastly, when the local government address the concerns of the local community about
business establishment that violates the law. This mandate of the government was commendable.
Not all government official are stricly implementing the law but in this area of Siargao the law
must be followed. The government temporary close the business because they violate it and this
shows that they have authority about it. What the government did was setting an example to
another business establishment that the environmental law must be taken seriously.

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RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER MANAGEMENT
APPROACHES SHOULD BE APPLIED TO ADDRESS THE GAPS

Soil Pollution/ Solid Waste Pollution

Soil pollution is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals,
salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant
growth and animal health.

There are different ways that soil can be polluted such as seepage from a landfill,
discharge of industrial waste into the soil, percolation of contaminated water into the soil, rupture
of underground storage tanks, excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer, solid
waste seepage. Proper methods should be adopted for management of solid waste disposal.
Industrial wastes can be treated physically, chemically and biologically until they are less
hazardous. Burying the waste in locations situated away from residential areas is the simplest
and most widely used technique of solid waste management.

The government should make an effort to improve the quality of soil through pollution
treatment and remediation. To ensure the sustainability of the project, the individuals and
companies that pollute the soil should be held responsible for the treatment and remediation
costs.

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is generally defined as regular exposure to elevated sound levels that may
lead to adverse effects in humans or other living organisms. According to the World Health
Organization, sound levels less than 70 dB are not damaging to living organisms, regardless of
how long or consistent the exposure is.

A way to reduce noise pollution is to plant more trees. Trees have been studied to absorb
about 5 to 10 decibels around them. Planting more trees will not only help with reducing sound,
but also help in addressing this concern.
Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human

activities. Water pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural
environment. In the Siargao island, the case of water pollution is not that severe like having
E.Coli in the sea but this does’nt mean that the citizen should not be taking care of it. As some
of business establishment are suspended for discharing thier waste in the oceans. They must sure
that this won’t happen again because if this will continue human risk and environmental hazard
will be present.

As early of now, water treatment is must to be sure and to have sustainable surroundings.
Sosme of water treatment are centrifuges which reduce the amount of solids in wastewaters,
thereby reducing water pollution. In addistion, adsorption is one of the most effective processes

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of advanced wastewater treatment technologies, that industry and academic researchers widely
employ for the removal of various pollutants.

CONCLUSION
Most of the tourist spot in the Philippines are polluted I selected Siargao island/city as the
subject of this case study. Evaluating and researching its ecosystem and environmental issues
such as pollution. The impact to the people and surroundings and the actions done by the citizen
are also included in the study.
From the gathered informations, Siargao island is a rising tourist destination for surfers.
As business establishment are increasing, it shows threat to the environment as pollution is
present in the area. From what I have gathered, soil pollution, noise pollution and water pollution
is present in the area. All of this pollution posed a possible risk to human health and to the
ecosystem as well.
With that, the local government of Siargao implemented and proposed solution to in
sustaining the pollution in the area. The mandates of the local government are the Juan Effect
Program, turning plastic waste to eco-bricks and strengthening the law by strictly implementing
it. The acts of this local government are all concerned in making the environment sustainable.
Therefore, application of environmental science and engineering is done to have solution
in environmental issues. Simple knowledge about this field and being well-informed is essential
for us. Hence, the application of enivronmental science and engineering is important in making
the ecosystem sustainable for the human and living things.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have taken efforts in case study. However, it would not have been possible without the
kind support and help of many individuals. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of
them.

First of all, I would like to thank the supreme power the Almighty God who was always
there to guide me to my studies and work and to be always in the right path. Without His grace
this activity could not be accomplished.

Next to him are my parents, whom I am greatly indebted for the love and support they
have given to me. As they pushed me to became a better person and as a student.

At last, I am taking this opportunity to sincerely thanks my professor, Engr. Bonifacio B.

Magbitay, for his endless support, patience, understanding which guide us in writing this case
study. I have no valuable words to express my gratitude, but my heart is still full of favors
received from every person.

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ANNEX A: Pictures of Animals in Siargao Island

Figure 13. Sea Cow Figure 14. Blue Marlin

Figure 15. Sail Fish Figure 16. Yellow-Fin Tuna

Figure 17. Tangigue Figure 18. Hornbill

Figure 19. Kalaw Figure 20. Magpir-robin

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