Jeremy M.

Marcos
BSIT 104

Development of the Philippines National Solid Waste Management Strategy 2012-2016

The Philippines are looming with garbage problems despite the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003. In 2007, the first quarter data from the National Solid
Waste Management Commission shows that there are 677 open dumpsites, 343 controlled dumps, and 21
landfills in the country. An additional 307 dump sites are subject to closure or rehabilitation plans, but
without definite schedules for enforcement. About 215 additional landfills are being proposed to be set up
nationwide. How can the citizens of the Philippines contribute or help solve this problem and what is the
best solution to solve this problem? There are several methods of waste reduction. These are
manufacturing products that have less packaging. This reduces the amount of waste to be disposed in the
environment after the consumption of those products. Manufacturing companies should encourage the
consumers or customers to bring their own reusable for packaging and also the public should be given
priority to choose reusable products. The collection of the wastes is normally done by the authority. This
is done by method of regular collections. It is advised and important to collect waste twice a week.
Actually, there are several factors that are considered to determine the frequencies of collecting the
wastes. The main factor is the weather condition of the region. During the hot season, the authority is
advised to collect solid wastes at least twice a week. This is because many people do buy water. Solid
waste management is a term that is used to refer to the process of collecting and treating solid wastes. It
also offers solutions for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash. As long as people have
been living in settlements and residential areas, garbage or solid waste has been an issue. Waste
management is all about how solid waste can be changed and used as a valuable resource. Solid waste
management should be embraced by each and every household, including the business owners across the
world. Industrialization has brought a lot of good things and bad things as well. One of the negative
effects of industrialization is the creation of solid waste. Waste disposal is a massive problem across
Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, the central government legislated the R.A. 9003, also known as the
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, that authorizes local government units (LGUs) to take charge
of the management of solid waste management programs in their respective area of responsibility -
particularly requiring them to rely more on reuse and recycling. However, the practical aspects of
implementing these changes and the costs local governments will have to bear have not been given much
attention. This study has looked k into the current state of the country's waste management program. It
found a large shortfall between the amount of money needed for waste management and the amount of
revenue that is obtained from providing waste management services. As a result, many local government
authorities are unable to finance adequate solid waste management programs.Compliance with other
environmental standards on wastewater, air pollution, medical and hazardous wastes would no longer be
difficult to comprehend and can easily be made part of the day-to-day practice of every business and
industry in the country. Behavior is a key cultural aspect that is embedded in people’s way of life.
Studying a community’s behavior and introducing new ones requires intensive, long-term, and creative
social marketing. This can be done by studying the demographic and cultural fiber of the community
through immersions and capacity building activities. The Resources, Environment and Economics Center
for Studies, Inc.’s (REECS) 2002 study on household waste management systems and the attitudes and
behavior of the communities in two barangays in Metro Manila ( Bennagen, Nepomuceno, Covar, 2002)
show that:1. Waste management is still perceived by many as the responsibility of government. 2. Public
participation in waste management, especially in segregation at source, remains limited. 3. More
extensive awareness- raising activities and training on ecological waste management are needed, together
with stricter enforcement of the Law and local ordinances must be observed. 4. There is a lack of
community empowerment and political will to resolve the problem. Recognizing the importance of the
environment’s immediate recovery and the effects of improper waste management to the Philippines,
there is a need for understanding and reformation of attitudes and concern towards the protection of the
environment. The impending garbage crisis can be prevented if we only practice waste segregation at
source, recycling, and composting as what the law requires. An intensive social marketing program has to
be established on a long-term scale within a barangay – the smallest unit of the local government.