Professional Documents
Culture Documents
net/publication/289574916
CITATIONS READS
13 12,499
3 authors, including:
Rico Ancog
University of the Philippines Los Baños
35 PUBLICATIONS 234 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Assessing the Implications of Various Resource Use and Management Options in Laguna de Bay View project
All content following this page was uploaded by Rico Ancog on 22 January 2016.
The formulated solid waste management strategies in the highly urbanized Cebu City in Central Philippines was
set to directly target identified waste concerns to fully maximize limited resources. Based on Friedman test conducted
to evaluate differences of the solid waste generation in years 2007-2009, no statistically significant reduction effects of
the prior solid waste ordinances and strategies implemented in 1990 and 2004 was found (p-value=0.431 < α=5%).
It was realized that programs implemented must provide economic incentives to fully impress upon constituents that
waste is a resource. A coordinated enforcement scheme through the formation of the Cebu Environmental Sanitation
Enforcement Team (CESET) of the city government in partnership with the community and civil society and along
with the creation of special environmental courts have resulted for the enforcement measures to take effect. Forging
strategic partnerships arrangements with both local and international groups to help advance city waste management
was deemed important particularly on the aspects solid waste management capability trainings, landfill facility
improvement, waste to energy project implementation as well as on the procurement of waste management equipments.
In a decentralized environmental management common among many developing countries, harnessing various
institutional arrangements to enhance participation and cooperation among stakeholders could be found useful to
enhance local government units’ capacity to provide basic public services while also achieving environmental targets.
The type of institutions present in a local government government, the community, and the private sector, which
unit and the various arrangements between and among could generally be categorized to fall under legal, regulatory
them Critical to the realization of a sustainable solid waste and financing components (Figure 1).
management program. Institutions refer to conventions,
norms and legal rules of a society that provide expectations, The challenges of effective solid waste management
stability and meaning essential for coordination that in turn are exacerbated with the growing urbanization (Ahmed and
regularize life, support values and protect and produce Ali 2004). Now with the decentralization of the management
interests (Vatn 2005). Hagedorn (2002) related that of environmental resources to local government units in the
institutional arrangements geared toward co-ordination Philippines, the need for innovative approaches is pressing
would arise depending on the features and implications of given some financial resources limitations. However, with
transactions related to nature and the ecosystem. Applied in the enactment of the Ecological Solid Waste Management
the context of the local commons, Ostrom (1990) explained Act (RA 9003) that sets the guidelines on solid waste
that institutional arrangement is essentially both the formal avoidance and volume reduction, local government units
and informal rules influencing human behavior and could remain uncertain particularly with regard to enforcement
be categorized into three levels such as operational rules, and financing of solid waste management program (Sumalde
collective choice rules, and constitutional choice rules. 2003).
While operational and collective choice rules pertain to day
to day rules made by resource users, and the rules used by This paper aimed to present the specific case of Cebu
users and external agents, respectively; constitutional choice City in its efforts to address the waste issues and concerns
rules determine eligibility to participate in the system and in at all levels. Cebu City is a leading city in the Philippines
setting rules for collective choice rules (Ostrom 1990). attributed largely to being the gateway to central and
southern parts of the country and having gained the prestige
Various institutional approaches for various facets of being a top tourist destination in Southeast Asia. With its
of solid waste management could be employed to ensure rich natural endowments coupled with its colorful historical
sustainability. Solid waste management includes collection, background, it has achieved and maintained a vibrant
transfer, recycling and disposal of solid wastes (Cointreau- economy resulting it to be recognized as a highly urbanized
Levine 1994; Ogu 2000). Institutional arrangements specific city in the Philippines. The city, however, is confronted with
to solid waste management in a local government unit could soaring population that aggravates the generation of solid
be between and among key actors that include the local wastes, thus, posing a challenge on its management.
1
Assistant Professor, School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031. E-mail: rcangcog@yahoo.com.
ph (corresponding author)
2
City Councilor, City of Cebu, Cebu City 6000
3
Professor, School of Environmental Science and Management, UPLB
Journal of Environmental Science and Management Vol. 15 No. 2 (December 2012) 75
of Cebu were also conducted to enrich the analysis.
more than five thousand pesos only (P5,000.00) or by where apprehension have been made;
imprisonment of not less than one (1) month to not more • Twenty percent (20%) of collected compromise from a
than six(6) months, or both fine and imprisonment at the violator shall go to the apprehending person. The City
discretion of the court. If the violation is committed by a Government awards the incentives to the barangays
juridical person, the manager or person-in-charge shall be and the apprehending persons on a semi-monthly basis.
held liable.
• Compromise Fee – If the violator opts to settle the liabilities In addition, to test whether above-mentioned policies
for such violation by paying out-of-court compromise fee, implemented as early as 1990s and in 2004 had reduction
the City Mayor or his duly authorized representative may effects on solid wastes generation in Cebu City, Friedman
approve the application made by the violator with the Rank Sum Test was conducted comparing 2007, 2008
caveat on the violator not to violate again any provision and 2009 total solid waste data weighed prior to final
of this ordinance; Provided further, that the compromise disposal at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill. The computed
fee which the violator shall pay out of court shall be in p-value=0.431 is lower than alpha=5% suggesting that
the amount of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) only. Any the implementation of such policies had no statistically
violator who shall have paid a compromise fee and significant effect on the reduction of solid wastes for the
commits a second violation shall no longer be qualified for year 2007-2009 (Table 1). This result, however, could
an out-of-court compromise fee. not strictly mean that such ordinances in Cebu City were
• Community Service – If the violator cannot pay the totally ineffective. Rather, possible additional support for
compromise fee, the person must render community full implementation and the likely scaling-up of the solid
service of one (1) day to fifteen (15) days at any barangay waste management projects may lead to better results.
as determined by the Monitoring/Enforcement Unit of the
Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board. It was observed Strategies and Programs Implemented in Cebu City
that the number of cases starting from the implementation
of the CESET enforcement program up to the present has Review of Existing Programs and Policies. In year
been gradually decreasing which would mean that people 2004, a review on how Cebu City manages its solid
are becoming conscious and aware regarding the city wastes was called for by the City Mayor to assess its
waste enforcement program. In addition, the accumulated effectiveness, identify problems and formulate new
fine is subject to the following: approaches and strategies relevant to prevailing conditions.
• Fifty-percent (50%) of collected compromise fees The solid waste management program in Cebu City
from a barangay shall proceed to the city treasury. was not able to take-off due to the following reasons:
• Thirty percent (30%) of collected compromise fees • Non-participation of the constituents. Misconceptions
from a barangay shall go to the same barangay mostly from the sector of the urban dwellers that the
Table 1. Descriptive and Friedman Test Statistics of Cebu City solid wastes, 2007-2009.
Descriptive Statistics
N Mean Std. Minimum Maximum Percentiles
(in kilos) Deviation (in kilos) (in kilos) 25th 50th (Median) 75th
2007 44 149421.90 118472.54 21250.83 618220.58 63836.52 122471.75 187062.10
2008 44 164963.80 141545.34 36051.00 785498.36 71175.30 141160.21 201719.14
2009 44 161095.62 127640.80 19490.00 701415.42 64269.58 128001.45 217735.20
Ranks
Mean Rank
2007 1.84
2008 2.07
2009 2.09
Test Statistics
N 44
Chi-Square 1.682
df 2
Asymp. Sig. .431
Note: Ho: The policy implementation has no effect on the reduction of solid waste
Ha: The policy implementation has effect on the reduction of solid waste.
Rule: reject Ho if p-value < alpha=5%
Journal of Environmental Science and Management Vol. 15 No. 2 (December 2012) 79
city’s waste is the responsibility of the government. “Waste as a Resource” Strategy. The implemented solid
• The ISL was at its ultimate closure. Cebu City landfill site waste management program in Cebu City was guided with
has already reached more than its life span of seven years. the need to let its constituents realize that wastes have
• Lack of political will. Officials largely responsible for the value. This was done by highlighting economic incentives
implementation of the mandates of the law especially in from the wastes generated and in emphasizing that wastes
apprehending ordinance violators are reluctant in doing were resources that were largely untapped. In line with this
so as it is perceived to affect their political careers. thinking were the various implemented programs specific
• Limited financial capacity and technological capability. to the types of wastes generated. For the recyclables,
These result in accumulation of solid waste in the streets “Cash from Trash” and “Trash to Products” strategies
since the schedule of wastes collection was not followed. were implemented while various composting strategies
were implemented for the biodegradable wastes. In terms
Typologies of SWM Strategies Implemented in Cebu of the recyclable non-biodegradable wastes, barangay-
City. In response to the results of the review, the Cebu City based waste segregation activities were conducted in eight
government has developed programs and strategies in order pilot urban barangays of Cebu City. The first phase is in
to improve its solid waste management initiatives. These addressing the recycling of non-biodegradables, which
strategies included Information and Education Campaign, accounted for about 25% of the total waste generated
Cash from Trash Project and Trash to Products Initiative, in Cebu City daily, since this was found to be the easiest
enforcement activities through the CESET and local and to manage. Each of these programs is discussed below.
international outsourcing strategies in implementing solid
waste management programs. “Kwarta sa Basura” (Cash from Trash) Program. At the
barangay level, government officials organized the women’s
Information, and Education Campaigns (IEC). The organizations to conduct a “Buying day” for the recyclables.
Cebu City Government has recognized that the success of These women’s organizations were the prime movers of the
the solid waste management program largely depended on “Cash from Trash” program. Every week, they gather edthe
the heightened level of awareness among its constituents recyclables and brought them to the collection site for sale.
to ensure their active participation. This was done through Every barangay was assigned with a buyer of recyclable
the implementation of various information and education materials which was given with seed money by the Cebu
campaigns aimed at making the people understand and the City Government. Eventually, these women organizations
need to comply with the laws and ordinances as its main were now turned into cooperatives. Crucial to such strategy
objective. The City government served as the main initiator was a strong women’s group led also by strong barangay
to start these education campaigns, which target the different officials that in turn sustained the initiatives at the barangay
sectors of the city. level.
The sectoral approach of the implementation of the The partnerships built on this strategy were that of the
IEC activities was seen to be effective as each sector shares recyclers, the junkshop owners, and the local government
the same waste stream. Each sector prepared IEC activities units. Starting 2007, there were about eight barangays
that were appropriate to their respective needs and situations. implementing the Cash from Trash programs, which was
Overall, IEC was implemented by involving national, expected to have been replicated to the other barangays of
regional and local media networks. To fully implement this, Cebu City as well.
Cebu City government maximizes all channels spanning
from one-on-one communication in dealing with the enforcer Since 2006-2007, the two big malls of Cebu City,
and the violator to interpersonal communication like group namely SM City Cebu and the Ayala Mall have created
channels e.g. meetings, discussions, demo-lectures, fora and their Waste Market programs. With the comprehensive IEC
seminars. of the City, big establishments were asked to come up with
programs in line with the solid waste management program
The IEC activities in the community were of the city. As a response these malls have partnered with the
complemented with programs at school which are basically local barangay units to contribute to recycling as their form
aimed at increasing the level of awareness and participation of corporate social responsibility.
among students. At the elementary and public high school
levels, students were asked to bring recyclables to school Trash to Products Strategy. Turning trash to products was
where it could be sold and their earnings will serve as their another strategy implemented by women’s organizations that
daily allowance. Moreover, it was emphasized to them is participated mostly by housewives. Various accredited
that other than earning money from wastes, they could NGOs in the city government were requested to implement
become active participants in conserving the environment. programs that will contribute to waste reduction while
providing alternative sources of income. These organizations
80 Solid Waste Management in Cebu City
Composting Programs. In order to avert the volume of Outsourcing Strategies. With the limited financial capacity
organic wastes being disposed to the sanitary landfill, and technological capability, Cebu City involved the
composting programs has been implemented. This was necessary environmental linkage and networking among
realized through outsourcing strategies from local and different groups and institutions from both local and
international partners. international groups which found to have the same agenda
and concern to that of the Cebu City. Through the years, the
Vermicomposting. As early as 2007, the Cebu City Cebu City government has forged collaborations necessary
Government has tapped the San Miguel Corporation (SMC), to advance its city waste management. Highlights of these
which facilitated the implementation of the training of outsourcing strategies are the following, namely:
trainors (TOT) on vermicomposting technology for the
Cebu City Government and selected barangay personnel. Local Outsourcing Strategies
The said program was part of its program on corporate social
responsibility projects. Aside from engaging in agricultural Information, Communication, Education Initiatives. Local
crop production, SMC also saw vermicomposting as universities such as the Southwestern University, University
a promotional activity for the company. Participants of Cebu and St. Theresa College have implemented initiatives
of the TOT then became trainors who were later asked on having in-house solid waste management program that
Journal of Environmental Science and Management Vol. 15 No. 2 (December 2012) 81
includes IECs among its students. Worth mentioning were the various waste management programs on their respective
efforts of the St. Theresa College to implement a school-wide localities thus were initially tapped to help Cebu City in
solid waste management program particularly in integrating implementing every aspect of its solid waste management
environmental concerns in its curriculum and instruction. programs.
Lihok Filipina, a network of Filipino women, Training on Capability Building. Personnel and officials who
implemented information campaigns and education program wre primarily involved in the environmental sanitation and
in Cebu City related to solid waste management program solid waste management concerns have been continuously
at the household level. They organized and enjoined sent for trainings both in local and international organizations.
housewives to participate in a “Waste to Product” programs In 2000, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, a sister city of Cebu,
that produced homemade crafts that are sold in the market. was instrumental in the drafting of the city’s solid waste
On the other hand, the Alyansa sa mga Lumulupyong Kabus management framework as well as in extending technical
Alang sa Pagpalambo (ALCAP) or Alliance of the Urban assistance to enhance capability of the local officials with
Poor for Development, a people’s organization participated regards to solid waste management. In addition, a four-man
in by the wives of the Cebu port workers also engaged team from the Cebu City-Department of Public Services was
their free time into producing and selling paper products to sent to attend a three-week Solid Waste Management Training
generate additional income for the family. in Hoofddorp Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands in 2002. It was
followed with another team later sent on November 2003.
Biogas Digester Project. The University of San Carlos along These capability trainings were instrumental in ensuring
with its Affiliated Non-Conventional Energy Center (USC- that key personnel in solid waste management in Cebu
ANEC) provided the technical expertise on the Biogas City benchmarked their activities with other cities abroad.
Digester project that was implemented with funds from the
Cebu City Government. The project aimed to process the Sanitary Landfill Facility Projects. Haarlemmermeer,
waste from the Cebu City Abattoir into methane gas. The Netherlands, another sister city of Cebu, assisted the
technical expertise of the University was provided for free as organized waste scavengers at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill
this has become an their extension activity. USC’s technical to engage in composting as their alternative source of income
assistance was further availed for the implementation of the once the sanitary landfill after its eventual closure last March
Cebu City Clean Air Project funded by USAID that has been 2012. Financial support amounting to PhP 480,000.00
underway. has given to Cebu City to cover incentives for the waste
scavengers who were now engaged in composting program
Waste Market Initiatives. The Ayala Mall has organized the of the city government. In addition, a trash compactor for
Cebu Business Park and Neighboring Barangays Altruistic the sanitary landfill was provided to Cebu City. This was
Alliance Inc. (CBPNBAAI) to enjoin all tenants and the also instrumental in extending the life span of the Inayawan
surrounding barangays in implementing a recycling program. Sanitary Landfill.
Ayala Mall tenants sold their recyclables so that it could be
bought and reused by other potential buyers. Likewise, the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project. Kitakyushu City,
SM City Cebu scheduled every Saturday of the week as Waste Japan funded the Jokaso project which was a community-
Market day where Cebu barangay residents could bring in based waste water treatment facility. The implementation
their recyclables also to be sold to other interested buyers. of this project was also instrumental in coming up of the
Strategic Plan for addressing solid waste management
International Outsourcing Strategies issues for the Guadalupe River, a major river system
in Cebu City. In addition, Takakura Home Method
International outsourcing program of Cebu City (THM) Composting has since been implemented in
was forged through the assistance of the United Nations 2006 with the assistance of the Kitakyushu International
Environment and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific. Techno Cooperative Association to process domestic
Cebu City’s Committee on Foreign Relations tapped several solid waste into compost by using lactic acid bacteria.
Consular Offices in Cebu City to identify local government
units in their respective country that can possibly aid Cebu The implementation of the Cebu Common Treatment
City in implementing effective solid waste management Facility, Inc (CCTFI) was one case that showed how
program. This has led to the establishment of sister city partnership among the business sector, city government and
linkages that were found to be very important in coming a funding agency could be pooled together to implement an
up with environmental network of Cebu City. Among many important environmental project for the benefit of all. As
sister city pacts entered into by the Cebu City include Fort experienced, several business establishments in Cebu City,
Collins, Collarado; Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands and primarily the metal finishing industry, were continuously
Kitakyushu City, Japan. Each of these cities has implemented faced with the problem of disposing its toxic wastewater
82 Solid Waste Management in Cebu City
while others have the difficulty of implementing in-house Environmental Code to sustain its solid waste management
wastewater treatment facility due to the cost it entails. As a activities in conjunction with other public services targets.
group, they have signified their concern through the Cebu More detailed analyses on the earnings of the households, the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to the Cebu City community and local in engaging to a number of solid waste
Government. After a series of collaborative meetings, the management strategies through time is recommended to afford
Cebu City Government entered into a Bilateral Agreement a long-term understanding of the impacts of the program.
for Technical Cooperation in 1991 with the Federal Republic
of Germany through the German Agency for Technical REFERENCES
Cooperation (GTZ). This joint venture has resulted to the
establishment of the Cebu Common Treatment Facility, Ahmed, S.A. and M. Ali. 2004. Partnerships for Solid Waste
Inc. (CCTFI) which was primarily managed by the CCCI Management in Developing Countries. Habitat International
after being granted with the treatment equipments from 28: 467-479
the German Government and its lot being provided by the
Cebu Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team. 2007-2009.
Cebu City government. Since 2007, CCTFI was an ISO
Cebu City Waste Data. Cebu City Hall. Unpublished Report.
14001 certified wastewater treatment facility and has been
offering a comprehensive hazardous waste and wastewater Cointreau-Levine, S. 1994. Private Sector Participation in
treatment and disposal services that have been found to be Municipal Waste Services in Developing Countries, Vol 1:
more economical than requiring each business establishment the Formal Sector. World Bank Urban Management Program
to build their own treatment facility. Discussion Paper 13, Washington DC.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Congress of the Philippines. 2001. Republic Act No. 9003
Ecological solid waste management act of 2000. Manila.
As in the case of Cebu City, the most important key
for the solid waste management program to be successful Das, A.K and L.M. Takahashi. 2009. Evolving Institutional
is the necessary community involvement that is achieved Arrangements, Scaling Up, and Sustainability: Emerging
when implemented programs provide economic incentives Issues in Participatory Slum Upgrading in Ahmedabad,
India. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 29: 213
coupled with a rigid enforcement scheme to ensure a
sustained city waste management program. Full participation Hagedorn, K. 2002. Institutional Arrangements for Environmental
across different sector of the society such as the businesses, Cooperatives: a Conceptual Framework. In Hagedorn K.
non-governmental organizations, barangay councils, (ed), Environmental Cooperation and Institutional Change:
among others, must be tapped to ensure a comprehensive Theories and Policies for European Agriculture, New
participation of the program. With limited financial and Horizons in Environmental Economics. Cheltenham, UK
technological capability, partnership with both local and and Northampton, MA, USA
international groups to advance city waste management is
indeed important. The different institutional arrangements National Solid Waste Management Commission. 2007. Top 15 city
provided in this study are not purely unique to Cebu City. solid waste generators in the Philippines. Manila
However, the typologies of such arrangements between and
Ogu, V. I. 2000. Private Sector Participation and Municipal Waste
among the different stakeholders including the support from Management in Benin City, Nigeria. Environment and
within and outside of Cebu City provided a good mix of Urbanization 12: 103
strategies necessary for a complex solid waste management
in a context of highly-urbanized local government unit. Ostrom, E. 1990. Governing the Commons. Cambridge University
Press
The remaining challenge faced by Cebu City was how
to ensure the continuity of the solid waste management Sumalde, Z.M. 2005. Implementation and financing of solid waste
program. This could be the groundwork to achieve a long- management in the Philippines. Research Report No. 2005-
RR1, Singapore: Economy and Environment Program for
term goal of sustaining Cebu City’s solid waste management
Southeast Asia (EEPSEA). 60 pp.
program, and should take off from vision to germination.
These include the institutionalization of all environmental Vatn, A. 2005. Rationality, Institutions and Environmental Policy.
initiatives on solid waste management starting from policy Ecological Economics, 55(2): 203-217
formulation, program development and implementation, and
enforcement strategies. With all these initiatives undertaken ACKNOWLEDGMENT
at hand, the role of the Cebu City Environmental and Natural
Resources Office to coordinate with other departments of the Thanks to the various offices of the Cebu City Government
Cebu City government particularly the Department of Public for the data with the assistance of Dianne Rallon, Olani Marie
Services need to be clearly outlined in the Cebu City’s N. Bongato, Ma. Kristina Oquinena and Gabrielle Keisha Pena.