As rain downpour starts, the streets of Espana, Taft, and Edsa begin to be impassable by most people and vehicles. (Manabat, 2023). Since the year of 2010 until the present time, the number of Filipinos affected by a flood would not go below 50,000 and would reach up to 4.61 million (Statista, 2022). Some people who are part of this statistics became infected by different diseases such as leptospirosis and typhoid; lost their jobs and other sources of income and damaged their properties such as houses and land. 

The Philippines being a disaster-prone country, as proven by the number of typhoons it experiences every year, which is approximately 20 major storms, is one of the fundamental causes why Filipinos frequently encounter various types of natural events. Given this fact, the country has established programs and agencies to mitigate the effects of the said phenomena.

However, external factors, aside from climate change, have continuously contributed to worsening the situation. One of these influences is the waste segregation and discipline of the Philippines, which remains an environmental challenge to the country amidst the laws and ordinances made for the citizens to follow. Littered garbage can be seen in any street, particularly in the cities, especially when there are communal occasions. Garbage dumps that must be sighted only in Tondo, Payatas, and Navotas, the known places for waste storage, can now be witnessed on roads and highways.

The Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) reported that only 54.81% of the overall collected unwanted trash is disposed of in appropriate areas, whereas the remaining 45.19% are improperly disposed of and eventually end up in the country’s waterways and bodies of water. Hence, despite all the innovations and movements done such as the implementation of RA 9003, the multi-Information Education Campaign (IEC), and programs like alternative usage of eco-friendly containers as a replacement for plastics and styrofoams, poor waste management in the Philippines still poses a grave threat on the environment and public health aspects of the state.

Thus, integrating the function of a vacuum, the study will revolve around the development of a waterproof prototype that can accumulate blocked wastes found on drainages. In case of flood or heavy rains, this should also cater to floating garbage that can possibly lead to clogging the waterways. The waterproof vacuum is made of recycled material, specifically, cork, as it has attributes in being buoyant, impermeable, and low porous.

Designing this prototype has an objective to execute and combine both scientific development and human labor to aid existing proposals in solving this prominent and ceaseless social dilemma. This research wouldn’t just solve environmental issues but will also respond to human labor in line with creating an advanced technology that could ease the problem stated.

According to an interview by Oscar Oida, a reporter of 24 Oras, a resident in Barangay 202 in Tondo, Manila, stated that they experienced thigh-high flooding due to canal overflow that is composed of wastes. The resident further explained that they found out that the pumping stations were hit by various random wastes like tires, wood, sacks, and ropes and were then trapped with several trash like plastic which blocked the waterways and damaged it entirely. 

As reported, this research prototype can lessen the burden of human labor, especially the street sweepers, in collecting wastes from the streets and can reduce the rising flood level due to the blockage of garbage in the drainage systems. Although it is still evident that improper waste disposal is all human fault, human participation in social movements is needed in order to solve this issue because if humans continue to practice this inappropriate cycle, then this environmental issue will remain. “Garbage remains a main concern in the city's flood mitigation ef orts, but the successful waste management initiative of one barangay may serve as a model.” (Francisco, 2017).

The researchers utilized both experimental and quantitative methods. For the quantitative approach, they assessed the weight of the wastes gathered by the vacuum as the water drained and the amount of time the water drained with and without it. The experimental setup and the control set, which displayed the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, were the two settings created by the researchers for the experimental method.

An effective method for comprehending cause-and-effect interactions is an experimental study. Understanding how various factors affect a study's outcome depends on our ability to control variables and track their effects. The researchers conducted this experimental study to compare how wastes can affect the drainage system during floods in a selected area or specific place which is the Philippines, the amount of waste blocking the drainage system causes high floods and a slower process of water drainage.

The participants were chosen after the group looked through businesses that could assist in reaching the prototype goal, and the Arduino Training Kits helped the team provide the vacuum prototype. The researchers received quantities of cork from Cork Lab, Cork Project, and KV Board Manufacturing to utilize in testing and building a watertight prototype of the vacuum. The group deployed tests and direct observation as data-gathering methods and instruments. During the experiments, the researchers noted the characteristics of the vacuum as it collected trash while submerged in the water and its behavior about how long it can stay in the water. The setups used for data collection, which were regarded as our experiments, provided the team with the necessary data, demonstrating that the water drained more slowly without the aid of a vacuum to remove waste.

Statistical methods were the primary methods used to gather and analyze appropriate and reliable data for both the experimental and controlled setups. To be more specific, linear regression and t-tests were used to analyze the effectiveness of using a waterproof vacuum to lower flood levels. Thus, regression analysis and quantitative analysis were used to further understand the gathered data. Despite focusing on the statistical methods, other statistical and analytical methods were also used such as descriptive methods, used mostly to summarize relevant information and data both in the gathered data and related literature.

Another method used is inferential, which was used to compare and contrast the cork-made waterproof vacuum over the traditional human labor of clearing trash/drainages. Third, a diagnostic analysis is used to identify the cause and effect of clogged drainage systems and improper waste segregation.

Fourth, predictive analysis was applied to generate and provide a solution and data that could bring positive future outcomes. Lastly, content analysis was done to understand previous research to be able to gather knowledge and to generate new research, this was applied to also understand the research being worked on. There are a total of two variables in the study, namely the dependent variable, which is the depletion of flood water level. The independent variable is the capability of the waterproof vacuum to accumulate waste.

Both contributing factors to identify the effectiveness of the cork-made waterproof vacuum. Intending to be both sustainable and functional, the researchers ensured the use of eco-friendly materials and only limited use of plastic for a vital component and purpose for the vacuum to maintain its purpose to help the environment.

The vacuum also assists people who involve themselves in cleaning streets and drainages to be away from health risks, vigorous tasks, and time-consuming jobs, thus maintaining the employment of workers. The vacuum will accumulate light waste such as floating plastic waste that contributes to the increasing flood levels, thus providing an aid to flooding.