WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PHILIPPINES

Cushman Campus,
Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City

SW 8 SOCIAL WORK POLICIES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Policy Review and Analysis by Faith B. Uraga

I. Problem Identification

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues,

as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the

world’s ability to deal with them. The increase of the plastic pollution crisis is both a

national and local concern. A growing number of plastic waste is one of the problem

that made a staggering impact for the people in the community/locality of

Pantabangan. It has been the issue that are difficult to control because of the lack of

participation from the people in the area, lack of transparency and the incapability of

baranggay officials to take initiative for the policy proceedings.

II. Magnitude and Extent of the Problem

A major challenge to the efficacy of the policy for the management of plastic

waste is no one seems to realize the magnitude of the problem that it can affect the

areas of public health, drainage systems and water reservoir, livelihood of the people

and ultimately our environment. According to the councilor of the baranggay, in

response to this the government have confronted the issue head on through studies,

consultation, connections, and raising awareness with support from World Bank and

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).

The data shows that Philippines generates an estimated 43,684 tons of garbage

daily, including 4,609 tons of plastic waste, according to government data, and proper

disposal facilities are lacking for much of it. Upon researching and interviewing

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 WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PHILIPPINES
Cushman Campus,
Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City
about the plastic waste management, we consider the RA 9003 act also known as the

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 to be the necessary policy

framework providing institutional mechanisms and mandate to the local government

in connection with the LGU through establishing plans on waste reduction based on

3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

III: Policy Analysis (situation comparison)

In this case, the problem presented is the Plastic Waste Management which

seems to be a common issue of every municipalities. The goals of this policy includes

the proper waste segregation, pollution prevention, and control practices of using

plastic as well as the setting up of materials recovery facility in every cluster of

villages. Proposing the Clean up Drive every week, Polluter pays Principle and the

assembly meeting every 1st and 3rd quarter of the year are good policies to be

identified and implemented. The formulation of policy are plausible and it will

certainly help the baranggay because of the approved and clearly defined objectives

having adequate resources (budget) to acquire the materials needed. But there are

situations that no matter how good the policies made implementation still fails. We

have strong laws but we sorely lack implementation. Success of a policy is ultimately

determined by its implementation and effective implementation is critical.

Considering the 7 steps in Policy Making, putting into action and practice is the

loophole of this Plastic Waste Management policy because we lack transparency.

With the theme, “Makiisa, Makilahok, Makialam” this policy could be the start of

making a difference and change in our area and it should have been the beginning of

enhancing accountability, establish unity, identifying the efficacy, building support

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 WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PHILIPPINES
Cushman Campus,
Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City
towards the officials and development of effective local strategies in collaborative

manner. The municipality of Pantabangan specifically the baranggay of West

Poblacion have adapted the comprehensive laws and action plans to address the

problem but there is a need for more effective implementation and stakeholder

involvement to achieve tangible results.

Now, on how to resolve conflicting goals in the areas of plastic waste policies

we use this SWOT Analysis. It is a strategic planning method that works on

encouraging or discouraging internal and external factors of this policy.

IV: Suggestions

The committee on the environmental issue should ensure the management of

solid waste especially when the garbage are all kind of mixed up together such as the

empty plastic bottles, sachets, paper, food leftovers, and others. In order to prevent a

possible pollution of the water reservoir and affect the people massively, we must

focus on having high level of political commitment and prepare adequate financing

and incentives to allocate it with the facilities and materials need for proper

segregation and to also operate a monthly seminar with resource speakers advocating

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 WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PHILIPPINES
Cushman Campus,
Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City
for proper plastic waste management that will govern the consumption, recovery and

recycling of plastics. Start taking initiatives to reach out for the people living in the

baranggay as much as possible all the residents must be part of the action.

V. Recommendation

At present, we need to require having a wider context of waste generation and

intervention. Government and policymakers with the stakeholders should select the

appropriate monitoring and feedback systems, advocacy and campaigns by relevance

of proper assessment of the focus area where the waste segregation needed it most.

Hence, we recommend provision of requiring the town residents to have eco-bag or

baskets when buying stuffs at the store or market, ensure every houses have garbage

bags with their trashes segregated accordingly to be collected by the garbage

collectors.