Let's Talk, Trash Talk:

Ensuring the Efficacy of Ordinance 160 in Barangay Liozon of Palauig, Zambales

Municipal Ordinance No. 160

Ordinance No. 160 or the “Solid Waste Segregation Ordinance” is based on the legal framework of Republic Act No. 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Act of 2000”. The ordinance's goal is threefold: it requires every household, establishment, and institution in Palauig to segregate waste disposal, design a system of garbage collection, and impose penalties for violations. It comprises sixteen sections that establish terminological and methodological groundwork to achieve its goals. It states that the Municipal Solid Waste Management Board (MSWMB) is in charge of implementing this ordinance through the help of the nineteen Barangay Solid Waste Management Committees (BSWMCs) and the LGUs.

According to this ordinance, there must be mandated waste segregation at the source where households, establishments, and institutions in Palauig must segregate their waste in three categories: biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and residuals or refuse (patapon).

Barangay Liozon

Liozon is a barangay in the municipality of Palauig, in the province of Zambales. Palauig is a 3rd class municipality located in Region 3 or Central Luzon within the province of Zambales. It has a total land area of 31,000 hectares and is composed of nineteen (19) barangays and one hundred seventy-eight (178) sitios. The population is around 39, 784 as of 2020. The sitting mayor, Hon. Billy Marcial Aceron, is currently in his third term. The residents of this town heavily rely on agricultural activities for their livelihood where farming mango and rice crops are the most common.

The Policy Challenge

The group is tackling the issue of improper waste management in Barangay Liozon, which is worsened by the stakeholders‘s inadequate communication and information dissemination.

Currently, the municipality, particularly Barangay Liozon, grapples with a crisis marked by improper waste disposal practices among both residents and authorities. The root cause of this issue is the municipality's significant challenge: the ineffective execution of its waste segregation system. This inadequacy mainly stems from the lack of sufficient information dissemination regarding proper waste management, which is evident among residents and officials alike. Compounding the problem is the fact that waste collection in Barangay Liozon only occurs once a week, specifically on Mondays.

Incinerated and unsegregated waste in Sitio-Dampay, Salaza, Palauig

The group's visit to the dump site in Sitio Dampay

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION

Information Dissemination

The group has found limitations to creating a solution due to temporal restraints and the presence of other major dilemmas such as the lack of political will, lack of funding, and technological access. Therefore, the proposed solution is both practical and feasible, a synthesized multi-pronged approach to filling in the communication gaps between the policy and its targets. Utilizing visuals and simplified language in various forms of communication, the team aims to guarantee that the residents of Barangay Liozon can easily digest the information being conveyed to them. The solution is centered on three crucial stakeholders: Barangay Liozon’s residents, waste collectors, and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO).

Its goal is "To streamline the waste management process by enhancing awareness and cooperation among stakeholders that can ultimately contribute to a cleaner and healthier Barangay Liozon."

Brochures

Brochures were developed for both residents and waste collectors of Barangay Liozon, detailing essential aspects of waste segregation. These brochures encompass summaries of the ordinance, tips for waste segregation, collection schedules, the adverse impacts of improper waste management, situational overviews, and key roles and responsibilities.

For Residents

For Waste Collectors

Poster

A poster will be displayed in prominent locations such as the Barangay Hall, every Purok waiting shed, and Liozon Elementary School, aiming to raise awareness about the significance of the ordinance and its crucial details. Additionally, it will be shared online with a comprehensive caption on Barangay Liozon's official Facebook page.

For Residents

Caption for Posting

Guidelines

Guidelines for both waste collectors and MENRO, as the head of the MSWMB, delineate their responsibilities and feature a more in-depth detailing of their waste management roles. Similarly, it can act as a supplementary turnover document for future MENRO and waste collectors.

Guidelines for Palauig's MENRO as the head of the MSWMB

Guidelines for Barangay Liozon's Waste Collectors

Consultations

The group, through its negotiations and consultations with Mr. Markbill John Mejala, Palauig’s MENRO, and Barangay Liozon’s Secretary Elma Monsalud Anaud, has ensured that the materials provided are adapted to the local context. Similarly, the group and the local government officials have agreed on allocating the responsibility of monitoring and assessment to one of the barangay waste collectors to measure waste segregation after the informational materials have been disseminated. The group has also recommended a fixed schedule for waste disposal in assigned collection sites which the officials agreed upon.

Let's continue to talk trash talk!

By clearly delineating responsibilities through various materials, we aim to streamline the waste management process by enhancing awareness and cooperation among stakeholders that can ultimately contribute to a cleaner and healthier Barangay Liozon.

Page updated

Report abuse