URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT |
The Philippines'
BROWN ENVIRONMENT
Some facts and figures...
- How much solid waste is generated daily in the Philippines?
An average Filipino generates 0.3 and 0.5 kg (rural and urban areas, respectively) daily. Makati City has a per capita waste generation of 0.71 kg. Of the country’s 16 regions, the National Capital Region accounts for 23 percent of the total garbage generated in the country annually.
...click here for more facts and figures
It has been estimated that 10 million metric tons of solid waste are improperly disposed of each year. Studies also show that only 40 percent of solid waste is collected—the rest clogs rivers and streets. Also, 58 percent of the country’s groundwater is contaminated. Surface water resources are also polluted as industries and households indiscriminately empty their untreated wastewater into drainage, creeks, lakes and rivers.
EcoGov’s UEM Sector helps LGUs respond to the urgent needs to address the unmanaged solid and liquid waste problem that threatens public health and environmental sustainability.
Targets
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) mandates all LGUs to divert at least 25 percent of their solid waste into recycling and composting, and away from disposal sites by 2006. Although it seems ambitious, EcoGov believes this target is achievable.
EcoGov targets include assisting at least 90 LGUs that will have an operating composting facility by the end of the project. In addition, the same number of LGUs is targeted for assistance in strengthening and expanding their recycling systems, such as junk shops, as well as in improving policy support that includes passing of ordinances to establish clear rules, not only on recycling and composting, but also in charging corresponding solid waste management fees and attracting new investments. The project is also assisting at least 40 LGUs develop engineering plans for new waste management systems, including wastewater facilities.
Strategies
The project employs LGU clustering as one of its approaches. This strategy encourages contiguous LGUs to work together, decide on who is going to host a waste disposal facility (e.g., sanitary landfill), and pool their resources and contribute to the establishment and operation of such facility. This approach is expected to lessen the financial burden on LGUs in putting up sanitary landfills. Another strategy allows for public-private partnerships (e.g., organization of junk collectors) in waste management (to include recycling and composting). Part of this strategy is assisting LGUs mobilize investments for solid as well as wastewater management facilities. Although concentrated only on a limited number of LGUs, the project’s efforts are expected to result in best practices that would be shared with other LGUs to facilitate their compliance with RA 9003 (The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act).
UEM Short Stories
- MSU System’s curricula, programs to introduce Islamic perspectives in environmental governance
- DILG and Bohol Province widen solid waste management initiatives
- Muslim religious leaders play key role in implementing SWM Program
- USAID helps improve sanitation facilities of MSU mosque
- Kidapawan gets wastewater treatment and composting facility
- GenSan Public Market to have its own wastewater facility
- Bayombong launches "one world one heart" campaign
- League of Municipalities of the Philippines cites partnership with USAID EcoGov2 Project during live telecast
- Southern Mindanao scores a hard hit against water contamination
- Mindanao cities deal with toxic waste with help from private sectors
- U.S. Ambassador turns over waste management program
- Lake Lanao to be nursed back to health
- Small purok triggers expansion of solid waste management efforts
- Lamitan marks Earth Day in a big way
- Clean Koronadal impresses Palarong Pambansa participants and guests
- Growing healthier vegetables in an environment-friendly way
- Araw ng Sibugays celebrates the environment
- One step towards saving Lake Lanao
- Muslim leaders endorse environment sourcebook
- Bayombong mayor gets tough on garbage
- Mayors learn from each other to serve constituents better
- Maranaos unite to save Lake Lanao
- Duero steps up waste management program; now a model in the province
- Helping LGUs comply with the waste management law
- Students help implement waste segregation in Isulan public market
- Vigilance good for Isabela City waters
- Youth appeal energizes waste campaign
- Schools help Quirino take care of garbage
- Annual implementation review of USAID’s SO4 projects
- Negros Oriental signs landmark pact for the environment
- Bayombong night market showcases effective waste management
- GK and Buug LGU strengthen composting partnership
- Green comics launched at DENR anniversary rites
- Buug LGU and Gawad Kalinga – New Partners on Solid Waste Management
- Araw ng Zamboanga Sibugay focuses on the environment
- Maria Aurora officials sign covenant for improved solid waste management
- Bohol cluster for common waste disposal expands to ten LGUs
- Bohol serious about waste water management
- Nueva Vizacaya barangay's waste segregation campaign now bearing fruit
- Bais City breaks impasse gets solid waste legilation going
- Waste segregation working in two Mindanao cities
- 4 Mindanao cities commit to deal with wastewater
- Nueva Vizcaya extends financial help to Bayombong for its waste management program
- League of Cities tackle legally acceptable alternatives to landfills
- Solano town, farmer's group launch ecological composting center in Nueva Vizcaya
- Bayombong turns old dumpsite into tourist destination
- Practicing Mayors to Teach Peers through Mayors’ Center of League of Municipalities: ECOGOV to support LMP
- League of Cities Updates Environmental Agenda: EGOCOV and USAEP team up to support move
- NSWMC-EcoGov sponsor forum to discuss facilitating LGU compliance with RA 9003
- Bambang believes in ‘Thinking Big, Starting Small’: Nueva Vizcaya town experiments with waste segregation in one barangay; now ready to expand program
- City proves waste management is everyone’s concern: Cauayan gets help from private, other sectors in managing its solid waste
- There’s money in composting: Local vocational school helps Maddela divert its biodegradable waste
UEM Reports and Publications
(Click here for more UEM Reports and Publications)
