Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Electronics Engineering

MINI RESEARCH:
“ Waste Management in Arayat, Pampanga”

Submitted by: Submitted to:

CONTAWI, Riego Engr. Estela Rico

PICHAY, Enn T.
REYES, Angela Mariz V.
TUPAS, Eunice Lane N.
VILLAR, Vincent Paul M.
 I. INTRODUCTION

Waste management remains to be a problem throughout the world. As experts continue to

make solutions to reduce waste and make use of it, majority of the population still lacks the discipline to
follow even simple rules. Disposal of small amount of waste into canals, rivers, or even sidewalks may
not be that harmful, but if it piled up, it may cause clot in sewage and canals which leads to flood in
urban areas.

What is waste management? Waste management are activities required to manage waste
before its final disposal. It includes collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste together with
monitoring regulation. The Philippine government already made laws and bills regarding waste
management such R.A 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management). Even though R.A 9003 was passed
more than decade, waste management still remains an environmental problem, especially in urban
areas like Metro Manila.

On the other hand, some provinces in the Philippines especially with those tourist spots strictly
follow waste management. Palawan, Boracay, Cebu and other famous tourist destination has strictly
monitors its people. To have reliable data, the researchers gathered information about the different
provinces or cities in the Philippines which implement waste management in their town. One of these
provinces is Arayat, Pampanga. Based on initial research, Arayat has this thing called “zero-waste”
management. Their Barangay Solid Waste Management Committee leads the management together
with help of Barangay Health workers. They encourage people to reuse, reduce, recycle and segregate.
Cooperating with different sectors, youth, farmers, professionals and religious leaders, they campaign
against improper waste disposal. With these information, the said place is an interesting place to know
how is this “zero-waste” management done? Was it really effective? And if so, why is this not
implemented in urban areas where the volume of waste is the largest?

First, this paper aims to determine the methods or processes used by the environment officials
of the municipality of Arayat to implement the solid waste management act in their barangays. Next is
to know the outcomes of the implemented projects prior to this act in their municipality. Lastly, is to
determine if the solid waste management improves the town’s waste disposal. If the solid waste
management in the place is proven effective, this may lead to a long-term solution for environmental
problems in the country.

As students and researchers, environmental problems do not really concern many of us until it is
in the news already. If this problem continues to remain for years, finding the solution will become
harder. Thus, it’s better to resolve the issue before it comes to its peak. However, such resolution can’t
be easily done especially if it’s a worldwide problem that’s why it’s better to reduce the issue to make it
easier to solve. A solution that can be easily done by every people is one step to resolve this
environmental problem that has been there for years.
Statement of the Problem

1. To determine the methods or processes used by the environment officials of the municipality of
Arayat to implement the solid waste management act in their barangays.

2. To determine the outcomes of the implemented projects prior to this act in their municipality.

3. And to determine if the solid waste management act improves the town' s waste disposal.

Interview Questions

1. In complying in this waste management act, in what aspect or area did the municipality of Arayat
focuses more? (Solid waste, E-waste, Water waste)

2. Since when or what year did you start implementing the RA 9003? (2012 in Arayat)

3. Stated in RA #9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 that segregation is one of
the processes that should be implemented. How often do you collect segregated garbage in every
barangay here in Arayat?

4. Where do you keep your collected special and toxic wastes?

5. It’s the municipality’s duty to collect special waste and toxic waste through MENRO, aside from that
do you also take in charge in collecting garbage in every barangay, and disposing it to the town’s
designated dumpsite?

6. What do they do to the wastes especially to E-waste?

7. What are the successful projects or processes implemented here to impose the solid waste
management act?

8. Are there any people or organizations that help you to make this act possible?

9. All do barangays able to comply in this act? Or do they constantly able to follow the implemented
projects in the municipality?

10. How do the citizens of Arayat adapt to the changes implemented in the city?
 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

[1] The IPM Group of Companies is a respected player in various Philippine business markets
construction, waste management, environmental consultation, real estate, land development, and,
most recently, business process outsourcing. Among the fastest growing multinational conglomerate
company in the Philippines headquartered in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

The IPM Group is composed of the following companies:

• IPM Construction & Development Corporation

• IPM Reality & Development Corporation

• Metro wide Environmental Consulting, Inc.

• THE FORT PART ESTATE INC.

• IPM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

The organization began in the early 1980s and was engaged in hauling and trading of fill
materials and various construction products. Today, the group’s flagship company, IPM Construction &
Development Corporation (IPM CDC) is a “AAA” PCAB registered and ISO 9001:2008 certified
corporation, undertaking construction projects with both the government and private sectors, IPM CDC
has undertaken work on roads and bridges, engaged in site development projects, built malls, high-rise
buildings, churches, utilities such as water distribution systems, sewer lines, drainage lines and
underground power and communication ducting, bulk excavations for high rise buildings, and flood and
erosion control projects.

In the field of environmental and waste management, the IPM Group remains at the forefront
through its companies, IPM-CDC, Basic Environmental Systems & Technologies, Inc., and Metro wide
Environmental Consulting, Inc., rendering services for Local Government Units government facilities and
private companies. Projects include the rehabilitation and closure or existing major dumpsites in Metro
Manila, Rizal, Laguna and Mindanao, the construction and operation of sanitary landfills and integrated
waste management facilities, and solid waste collection and disposal. All are conducted in accordance
with RA 9003, the National Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

[2] News Article

“Pampanga gov: Zero waste will be my legacy”

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The provincial government has achieved 40 percent of its solid-waste
management target in the last four years

This was reported by the provincial government and the environment and natural resources office in a
meeting of focal persons, as well as town and city environment and natural-resources officers.
However, Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda said she is not satisfied with the accomplishments presented as she
pointed out that there are still more things and more projects and programs that should be
implemented to fully manage the solid waste in the province.

She also appealed to the municipal solid-waste management boards to take all the undertakings needed
in making Pampanga the cleanest province by achieving zero waste.

“The provincial, municipal and city governments cannot do it alone; we need the active and full
participation of all stakeholders in our campaign for zero waste. Let us involve everybody. Every entity is
needed as everyone is producing garbage every day,” the governor said.

Hence, he urged the town and city environment and natural-resources officers to invite all sectors, such
as vendors association, homeowners association, businessmen, religious groups, private and
government hospitals, private schools, bankers, manufacturers, corporations—big and small—and
members of town or city solid-waste management board to effectively and comprehensively implement
the Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2002.

The town environment officers presented their compliance on the solid-waste management, which
shows that most of them are now using material-recovery facilities (MRF) for their solid waste collection
and segregation.

The governor said she is partly happy with Floridablanca, Lubao, Santa Rita, Porac, Mabalacat, Guagua,
Arayat, Apalit, Minalin, Sasmuan, Mexico and the city of San Fernando, who presented the flow of their
waste disposal, proper composting and their compliance to RA 9003.

“I am happy but not 100 percent as I still see garbage on the road. We must act together to achieve zero
waste in Pampanga and I want that as a legacy,” she said.

With this, she vowed to continue the provincial government’s full support to towns and cities that are
most compliant with solid-waste management through the provision of additional dump trucks, baler
machines, shredder and among other equipment needed for the operation and management.

Pineda suggested that there should be a cluster MRF in every town to save energy and gasoline in
collecting the garbage. She also thanked the Holcim Philippines for collecting materials that it can use
from the MRFs in the province.

“Napakalaking tulong ng Holcim dahil sa malaking kabawasan ang nahahakot niyong ‘holcimables’ sa
mga MRF natin. Asahan ninyo ang aming suporta sa tulong na ginagawa ninyo sa Pampanga,” the
governor said.

She will urge mayors to enter into a memoranda of understanding with Holcim and encourage them to
make the MRFs more accessible through construction of concrete roads going to the solid-waste
facilities. She also acknowledged the support of Metro Clark Sanitary Landfill on garbage disposal in the
province.
However, she said the Metro Clark should not only think of their income that could be gained from the
collected and delivered garbage.

“They should also give utmost priority to what they could support to the local governments by lowering
the amount of tipping and hauling fees they are asking,” she added.

Pineda said it is a win-win approach to the problem on solid waste.

“With minimal fees, the local governments could deliver garbage to Metro Clark regularly as scheduled
and they could also comply with the solid-waste management law and enjoy the clean and green
environment in their respective towns,” she said.

[3] Interview

The researchers conducted an interview last December 30, 2015 in the municipality of Arayat. They
were able to asked and gather information to Mr. Venar Cortez Parungao, the assigned Municipal
Environment and Natural Resources Officer, together with Ms. Kimberly Salalila and Mr. Chuckie Sagum,
the office secretary and encoder, regarding the municipality’s ways and action of implementing the Solid
Waste Management Act or RA #9003.

Mr. Venar Parungao studied at Mapuah Institute of Technology and also at Lyceum of the Philippines
during his college days. He was born at Navotas City and was once a resident in Antonio Rivera,
Tayuman, Tondo Manila. He got his way back in Arayat when he decided to get married. Mr. Parungao
was able to accommodate all the researchers’ questions for he’s been serving in the Municipality for
many years.
 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The researchers were able to ask 16 questions to further be familiar with the municipality’s stand about
the act. The researchers preferred gathering all information hands-on from the authorities who have
better knowledge about the act. They based the following questions on the proposed problems that the
researchers want to answer.

1. In complying in this waste management act, in what aspect or area did the municipality of Arayat
focuses more? (Solid waste, E-waste, Water waste)

Mr. Parungao pointed out if the researchers were referring about RA 9003 or the Solid Waste
Management Act due to his confusion on the question. He said that the office only concentrates on the
solid waste of the city. He expound further that the major categories of solid waste are biodegradable
and non-biodegradable, and under these major categories are other subcategories. He added that under
non-biodegradable are residual, special wastes and hazardous waste. Agricultural waste and kitchen
waste are under the biodegradable category. He also emphasized the confusion between the two major
categories. He said that people often think that if we’re talking about biodegradable it’s “nabubulok
ganun na lang”, and if non-bio “di-nabubulok”, he said that people should differentiate the two by
finding the root words of the words. That biodegradable is different from non-biodegradable due to the
presence of active microorganisms in the biodegradable materials, that comes from the root words bio
and degradable which means life and detoriating. He added that non-biodegradable is a material that
has no presence of microorganisms in it; commonly they’re the materials that undergo recycling. He
pointed out that the concentration of the law RA 9003 is on solid waste.

2. Since when or what year did you start implementing the RA 9003? (2012 in Arayat)

According to Mr. Parungao, RA 9003 was passed in 2000 but the problem is the people don’t have
knowledge about this act. In Arayat, the people only became aware in the year 2012. It is also the year
when Mr. Parungao started to handle the office and became the head of MENRO. He added that this is
one of the problems we are facing in our country, there are plenty of laws that are being passed but not
being implemented.
3. Stated in RA #9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 that segregation is one
of the processes that should be implemented. How often do you collect segregated garbage in every
barangay here in Arayat.

They collect their garbage based on the picture below:

Arayat has 30 barangays but technically speaking, they only collect garbage in 29 barangays (excluding
Lapaz Turu) because it is already located near the mountain. Some barangay does not have schedule
indicated in the board because they share in the MRF of other barangay.

4. Where do you keep your collected special and toxic wastes?

Mr. Parungao said that toxic wastes and hazardous wastes are not abundant in their municipality. He
explained that if we’re talking about toxic wastes those were wastes that are poisonous and commonly
present in factories, wherein there are no operating or located factories in Arayat that’s why the
municipality don’t handle hazardous waste or toxic waste. But he assured the researchers that if just in
case they have to collect toxic waste they’ll collect it in the same manner of collecting other wastes. But
instead of disposing it in the Municipality’s MRF, they’ll deliver it to the sanitary landfill. He mentioned
that only the sanitary landfills have the technology and expertise to handle such waste. He emphasized
that hazardous waste or especially hospital wastes are not their responsible anymore. He said that all
the hospitals in the Philippines have their own private treater. The responsible of private treaters are to
treat hospital wastes only excluding the ordinary waste of the hospital. He further gave examples of
hospital wastes such as used cotton balls, syringes or even the placenta of the woman who gave birth.
He said that they don’t have any connections to private treaters rather those treaters go directly to
DENR or DOH. Those private treaters must have the license to operate from the department responsible
in handling those areas. He also added that in Arayat the cost of hospital wastes per kilo is around 44
pesos to 60 pesos.

5. It’s the municipality’s duty to collect special waste and toxic waste through MENRO, aside from
that, do you also take in charge in collecting garbage in every barangay, and disposing it to the town’s
designated dumpsite?

Mr Parungao said that they collect garbage in every barangay but they don’t dispose it in the dumpsite
because they already closed it.

According to him, since the act was passed, dumpsites are already illegal but the government is not
being strict about terminating these dumpsites. It is only in 2010 that the government implemented and
become strict about this matter.

Based on the law, all local government including barangays, city, municipality, and provinces should
have their own MRF or Material Recovery Facility. MRFs are the ones that replace the dumpsites. This is
where they segregate the collected waste in each barangay. They also have their central MRF which is
located in the Tabuan dumpsite which is already rehabilitated.
6. What do they do to the wastes especially to E-waste?

The municipality mainly focuses on municipal solid wastes that are mostly composed of household
wastes and as well as wastes from nearby markets. Mr. Parungao said that on barangay MRFs there’s a
section wherein they can put all metals, plastics or coppers that the barangay can earn money from
selling it to junkshops. Mr. Parungao didn’t further explain how they manage Ewaste. From the very
start he clearly suggested that the only concentration of their office is the implementation of solid waste
management act. Mainly solid waste that has two types the bio and non-biodegradable.

7. What are the successful projects or processes implemented here to impose the solid waste
management act?

Mr. Parungao mentioned first the establishment of the central MRF of the municipality during his
leadership. And secondly he added that one of the most important achievements of the municipality
was the closure of the Tabuan dumpsite that is 1 hectare big. He added that they’re in the process of
rehabilitating the area that was operating for almost 20 years. They established the central MRF in the
former dumpsite and they’re almost finishing rehabilitating the area. He proudly said that there were no
trace that it was a former dumpsite, it’s almost like a subdivision he added.

Mr. Parungao also stated that the municipality is very active on information education campaign and
communication campaign. He said that barangays, schools and institutes invite them to discuss this
matter to students and residents. They also conducted motorcades last March 2015 during the Earth
hour about climate change and the law RA #9003. They were also featured and interviewed by news tv
like TV Patrol Pampanga.
Lastly, he showed to the researchers the list of people who violates the act together with the photos of
their trash that they improperly disposed. One of the processes they do in the municipality is wherein
they collect trashes they see nearby and traces the person responsible for the trash. He said that only
the municipality of Arayat has this kind of project. He even said that he thinks that even in the whole
Philippines they are the only municipality which do that kind of project and initiative.

8. Are there any people or organizations that help you to make this act possible?

He clearly said that there were no organizations that helped them to conduct their activities. He said
that there is a cooperative interested in helping them and he mentioned that the cooperative is called
Arayat Agri-Eco Producers Cooperative. He added that this cooperative is composed of
environmentalists ready to help their office. Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office or
MENRO on his own part they write and communicate to school, churches and universities not to solicit
but to let those institutions be aware of what the act is all about, its provisions like segregation and
others. They write to them to let the people be aware that this kind of law is already in the system of the
Philippines and people must be responsible in following this law.

9. All do barangays able to comply in this act? Or do they constantly able to follow the implemented
projects in the municipality?

Mr. Parungao said earlier that every barangay must have their own MRF wherein the barangay officers
are the responsible in implementing the act in their own areas. He said that it is indicated in the law
that barangay officers will collect segregated wastes in every household and then dispose it in their own
barangay MRF. Afterwards, the municipal trucks will collect the segregated waste in barangay MRFs.
Finally, the trucks will dispose the segregated wastes in central MRF. Unfortunately he honestly said that
there are barangays that don’t cooperate and follow the law. Some of them don’t have their MRF and
some them need to relocate and rehabilitate their former MRF. He mentioned that Brgy. Guemasan is
one of the barangays that don’t follow the act. Most of the residents in this barangay burn their wastes.
He said that the implementation should always start on the barangay officers. He also added that
there’s a barangay that they can’t able to reach due to it is located on the other side of Mt. Arayat. So in
conclusion, the researchers found out that not all the barangays in this municipality are following the
republic act, and as well as those barangays that can’t be reach by the municipality are lacking the
knowledge about the act.
10. How do the citizens of Arayat adapt to the changes implemented in the city?

One of the researcher asked if the citizens of this municipality were able to adapt in this act easily, and
“Mahirap”, Mr. Parungao replied. He said that maybe in other cities or in privilege cities the adaptation
of this act is easier. But in the municipality like this, it takes time to make people understand the whole
law. He said in his own experience when he’s conducting a research or even in implementing a project,
he especially studies the city’s history and citizens’ attitude. Based on his own observations he explained
that the citizens of the Arayat have no intentions not to follow the law, it’s just that they’re not aware
about the law. He added that some of the residents were just used to ways of burning their garbage or
dumping their garbage on open lots. He added that most of the elders burn their garbage to release
smokes that can help mango trees to flower. He said that it was the old way or the organic way of
making the trees to flower. During those days climate change wasn’t a problem that’s why people
tolerate those ways. People grew up in this kind of living that is why the municipality is having a hard
time in implementing the act. He suggested that the government should be serious in implementing this
act if they want to change the wrong way and attitude of people in this matter. Last November 25, 2015
he attended a meeting in NAPOLCOM, he even talked and frankly said to the secretary of DILG that the
national government is not serious about this act. He also mentioned the National Solid Waste
Management Commission is one of the proponents of the law. This commission is composed of various
departments. He said that this department for example is the DPWH, is not serious about this law.
Regarding to DPWH, there are assigned employees in cleaning highways, he said that those employees
after cleaning the highways will dispose the waste in nearby rivers. Therefore he concluded that the
national government is not serious about this act. Another example he gave was about the unawareness
of the farmers regarding the law. Most of the farmers after harvesting their crops will burn the whole
hectare to easily dispose the unwanted crops. He said that if the national government was serious about
this law the farmers must be at least aware through DOA that burning of waste is against RA 9003. He
imposed that the barangay councils being the front lines of this act must be the first to act about this
law.

11. How will you compare the condition of this municipality before and after implementing the "solid
waste management act"?

He said that their MENRO (Municipal Environment and Natural Resources) office was built in
2007, but the officers that time didn’t do anything at all. When they received demand letters and
complaints, that’s the only time they take their job seriously. And that’s when he started his position as
MENRO officer. He started being MENRO officer in 2012. Back then, they didn’t have MRF (Materials
Recovery Facility) in their municipality but now they already have 29 MRFs. Before, there were many
dumpsites but now they rehabilitated those areas. He added that the number of those people who burn
their garbage or dump their garbage on open lots decreases. He also makes sure that every day, the
whole municipality of Arayat will be monitored.

There is a big difference on the condition of their municipality before and after implementing
the Solid Waste Management Act. He admitted that they have still many things to do and their 10-year
Solid Management Plan is not yet finished.

12. From the day you started implementing this act, were there any filed cases on people who violate
this act?

Mr Parungao replied “Of course” and showed the researchers the folder filled with violations.

One of the researchers asked if there’s a punishment for those they caught-in in this kind of
project. Mr. Parungao said that the punishment is clearly written in the law but the implementation of
that is somehow unclear. He said that it is stated in the law that the violator needs to pay 300 pesos for
the first violation, or the person can do community service. But still he said that there are debates and
meetings for how to impose punishments for those who violate this act. He further discussed the
punishments for those who burn wastes and disposes waste improperly.

13. Compare before, how much waste is reduced now in your daily collection and disposing of waste?

He said that the waste in municipality is not that many. Based on their studies, the per capita or
the waste an individual produces is only one hundred grams. The only reason that makes the garbage
many is the lack of discipline of the people. But if they will throw their garbage properly, it will not
create an issue.
14. Is there any plan on improving the current waste management act?

He mentioned that there is an Association of MENRO officers in whole Pampanga. They think
that there are many loopholes in the current waste management act. First, it was not clearly stated on
how they will charge/punish those violators. They also thought that the segregation of waste in
household is ineffective. They also want to establish 1 MRF per barangay because there are still
barangays in Pampanga where they don’t have space or area for the establishment of MRF. He also
added that every city/barangay/municipality should have ordinance based on the waste management
act. He also requested DILG and DENR to create templates containing barangay and municipality
ordinance that everyone should follow. Lastly, they are still trying to communicate with the congress to
amend the waste management act.

15. In what aspect of the said act needs help from other people/organization?

He said that the help they need from the government is money/funds. Right now, they only
have 2 old trucks to collect the garbage for the whole Arayat. There should be different trucks to collect
for the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes because the segregation in household will be
useless. He said that they need financial support and ordinance from the government. For the people in
Arayat, he wants them to be more disciplined and fully understand the essence of the law.

16. In what way can the people on Arayat participate to further improve waste management?

Lastly, He said that to further improve this act, the people should have cooperation and
awareness. “Wag silang pasaway!” he said. The people should be aware about the act and be consistent
on following the ordinance.

He clearly said that the key for this act is the cooperation of all people. Not just the government.
Not just barangays. Not just the residents. They need the help and support from all the people. “BE
ENVIRONMENTALIST”, he said.
 IV. CONCLUSION

The researchers were able to gather all the necessary data for them to analyze and to evaluate the
municipality’s adaptation and actions towards Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The information
gathered by the researchers show foremost the answers on problems raised in this study. With the
methods used in gathering information, the following conclusions were made:

1. The assigned environment official of this municipality honestly said that their municipality hasn’t
made any huge change and progress about this act. Based on what we have gathered from the interview
we’ve conducted, the big step as of now of Arayat municipality is the closure of their 1 hectare
dumpsite, and the establishment of their central MRF on the said dumpsite. The MENRO department is
still in the phase of informing the people that this act exists. Menro coordinate to institutions in their
municipality, such as schools, churches and office, to have the opportunity to tell and inform the people
about this act, particularly about the importance of segregating and recycling, as well as the
consequences of not following in this act. MENRO also got involved on a nationwide campaign, the Earth
Hour. The researchers conclude that 15 years after this law was passed, the municipality of Arayat is not
progressing fast in terms of the prohibitions of this law, because the residents of this municipality is
either unaware or not cooperating fully, and also due to lack of funds and seriousness of the barangay
officials.

2. Mr. Parungao and his team was able to manage the closure of the Tabuan dumpsite last 2012. Since
RA #9003 was passed, illegal dumpsites must be closed. Another successful project of MENRO is the
establishment of the Central MRF located at the rehabilitated Tabuan dumpsite. The MRF or Material
Recovery Facility is mainly composed of quarters for recyclable, plastics, biodegradable and
nonbiodegradable. MRF or sanitary landfills are the designated area where people can dispose their
segregated waste. The municipality also established MRFs on every barangay in Arayat. However there
are barangays that don’t follow the procedures given by the municipality, most of the residents still burn
their wastes or dispose it in open lots. The researchers conclude that Arayat is very active on awareness
campaign and community campaign. They were able to conduct motorcades, seminars and, most of the
time, schools and churches invite them to tackle the law to everyone. Mr. Parungao also introduced
their recent project, wherein they will collect garbage anywhere, most of the time within the perimeters
of the city hall then they’ll identify who’s the owner of the garbage. Examples of violators are exam
papers’ owner, ID owner and receipts’ owner. From that the researchers were able to conclude that this
project has its limitation because only traceable wastes can be identified. And trashes like used diapers
or bottled soft drinks can’t be identified for sure. The researchers see the initiative and eagerness of the
officers to implement RA 9003 in their municipality. But as of now, the researchers think that the
projects introduced to them by Mr. Parungao and his office wasn’t enough though they were able to
close the Tabuan dumpsite. Because as of now, the municipality still focuses on informing the people.

3.
V. REFERENCES