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Negative: This could still promote land misuse or other agricultural problems because it gives off the impression that nature can still exist in cities and would disregard the fact that it is still better to have vast land areas for agriculture.

Positive: Green spaces in cities will be taken care of and nature will coexist with urbanization.

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In cases where there is more cities than land for agriculture, Hydroponics makes sure that cities are still infused with nature. This is agricultural technology grows plants with little to no use of soil, only mineral nutrients coming from water. This technology makes sure that there are still green spaces in urban areas.

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Negative: This solution could take a while before it could actually cure deforestation and land misuse.

Positive: GCash users could simply make their transactions and unconsciously help nature’s restoration.

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Reforestation is one of the solutions for Land Misuse because of Urbanization and technology can be used to intervene in this solution. UNDP Biodiversity Finance (BIOFIN) initiative partnered with Mynt, creator of GCash to create a platform for gamified tree-planting. Once users achieve a certain amount of points, virtual trees will then be converted to actual trees planted in Ipo watershed. This watershed supplies water for Metro Manila which extends to province of Bulacan.

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Technological Advancement for Land Misuse

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Negative: If ever the embankment is not built as firmly as it should, flash floods could happen.

Positive: This approach is not much costly as much as concrete embankments demand and will limit floods in an eco-friendly approach.

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Garbage problem effects such as flooding is also one concern of the province. To solve this, especially in lowland areas, Green Embankment is one of the proposed projects by North Manila Bay Flood Protection Strategy. Embankments is basically lining bodies of water with concrete to prevent its waters from flooding certain areas. However, because of concrete’s expensive cost, creating Green Embankment will reduce the problem and will promote a more eco-friendly approach. The project, though it is not going to be built in Bulacan, will still cover the province as well as Pampanga.

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Negative: It could take a while before this could be instilled amongst people in every barangay in Bulacan.

Positive: It would become a long-term solution if implemented well.

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Tabingo, P. (2022). Bulacan province warned on worsening garbage problem. Business Insight. https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/bulacan-province-warned-on-worsening-garbage-problem/

Tabingo, P. (2022, May 30). Bulacan province warned on worsening garbage problem. Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/bulacan-province-warned-on-worsening-garbage-problem/

Velez, F. (2018, February 21). Gov expressed alarm over the loss of sprawling agricultural land. Agriculture. Retrieved November 17, 2022 from: https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2018/02/21/gov-expressed-alarm-over-the-lost-of-sprawling-agricultural-land/

Velez, F. (2022, March 2). Over 300 sacks of garbage collected from Bulacan waterway. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/02/over-300-sacks-of-garbage-collected-from-bulacan-waterway/

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Manahan, J. (2021). Philippines contributes to over one-third of world's ocean plastic waste - study. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/06/10/21/philippines-global-plastic-problem-study

Province of Bulacan (2018). Bulacan addresses the issue on too much land reclassification and conversion. Province of Bulacan. https://bulacan.gov.ph/bulacan-addresses-the-issue-on-too-much-land-reclassification-and-conversion/

Reforesting the Philippines, one transaction at a time. (2020, December 3). Landscape News. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/48645/reforesting-the-earth-one-digital-transaction-at-a-time/

Silverio, F. (2022, August 24). Bulacan eyes new solutions to address flooding. The Manila Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022 from: https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/08/24/news/regions/bulacan-eyes-new-solutions-to-address-flooding/1855749

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Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production. (n.d.). The Global Goals. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/12-responsible-consumption-and-production/

Goal 15: Life on land. (n.d.). The Global Goals. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/15-life-on-land/

History of Bulacan. Province of Bulacan. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://bulacan.gov.ph/general-info/history-of-bulacan/

Home. (n.d.). Royal Haskoning DHV. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://northmanilabayfps.ireport.royalhaskoningdhv.com/updated-protection-strategy/summary

MANILA BAY INTEGRATED FLOOD CONTROL, COASTAL DEFENSE AND EXPRESSWAY PROJECT | Department of Public Works and Highways. (n.d.). DPWH. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/PPP/projs/MFCDE

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CNN Philippines. (2022, September 27). Mayor says Bulacan town hit by worst flooding due to ‘Karding’. CNN Philippines. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/9/27/San-Miguel-Bulacan-flooding.html

Canlas, J. (2020, June 20). Urban Agriculture: Coping With Crisis Towards Food Security. Special Area for Agricultural Development. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://saad.da.gov.ph/2020/06/urban-agriculture-coping-with-crisis-towards-food-security-4

De Paz, V. et al. (2020). Strategy to improve the solid waste management of Barangay Matictic, Norzagaray, Bulacan. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/511/1/012004

Department of the Interior and Local Government. (n.d.) Bulacan Best Practice. Retrieved November 18, 2022 from: http://region3.dilg.gov.ph/index.php/home-2/48-provincial-and-city-pages/bulacan/265-bulacan-best-practice

Garcia, G. (2022, February 10). Along the path of MRT-7, tension over land use and food security. PhilStar Global. Retrieved November 18, 2022 from: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/02/10/2159871/along-path-mrt-7-tension-over-land-use-and-food-security

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About Bulacan. Province of Bulacan. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://bulacan.gov.ph/general-info/about-bulacan/

Agapinan, J. (n.d). The Ecological Effects of Land Use Changes to Urban Development and Morphogenesis. International Conference in Urban and Regional Planning. University of the Philippines. Retrieved November 17, 2022 from: https://conference.surp.upd.edu.ph/downloads/ICURP%202018%20Downloads/SD07_Ecological%20Effect%20LUC_AGAPINAN.pdf

Bravo, M.R. (2017). Urbanization in the Philippines and Its Influence on Agriculture. In: Yokohari, M., Murakami, A., Hara, Y., Tsuchiya, K. (eds) Sustainable Landscape Planning in Selected Urban Regions. Science for Sustainable Societies. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56445-4_9

Bulacan History, Geography, Economy. (2019, February 27). PeoPlaid. Retrieved November 16, 2022 from: https://peoplaid.com/2019/02/27/bulacan-history/

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Solid Waste Management (SWM) could be adapted from the initiatives of the people in barangay Francisco-Homes Yakal in San Jose del Monte which started in 2002 which follows these steps: (1) develop the capacity of eco-aides, (2) maintain the sustainability of the solid waste management program and the cooperative, (3) construct organizational structure, (4) perform IEC (5) enact laws, and ensure institutional support, (6) acquire education through on-site inspections.

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Urbanization also threatens the 3,500 hectares of land in San Jose del Monte to pave the way for MRT-7 construction. Farmers and advocate go against this development as it will also affect the food security of the nation. Such construction not only endangers the land but also the people living in the area. Almost the same event has happened more than 20 years ago in San Jose del Monte wherein the fight became bloody and many were killed.

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Technological Advancements for Garbage Problem

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Land developments also results to blocked waterways which will cause flooding in lowland areas which will not only put people at risk but also their productivity.

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Land Misuse (for Urbanization)

As it has been said that Bulacan is one source of food, urbanization poses the province to loss of agricultural land. Furthermore, Bulacan’s rich land of fertile soil could be destroyed if urbanization prevails in the province. Building infrastructures for commercial, industrial, and residential purposes endangers the province’s agriculture.

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The process of urbanization resulted in substantial land conversion, which, in turn, led to a drastic decrease in crop production areas and changed the agricultural landscape of the Metropolitan Manila area. It also placed pressure on urban fringes, making land use conversion inevitable in cities. Findings point to the need for concomitant policies to preserve agricultural lands and sustain domestic food production, and promote urban agriculture to create and preserve the green and open spaces in the cities (Bravo, 2017).

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Over the last 20 years, the level of urbanization in the Philippines has stabilized, but the tempo has decreased, which implies a higher growth rate in the rural population than in the urban population. The influence of urbanization is seen in terms of the declining share of agriculture in the national economy and a minimal reduction in employment in the agricultural sector. Urbanization has resulted in decreases in the area and fragmentation of farm parcels as well as in the conversion of agricultural lands to urban use.

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The governor said this in the light that Bulacan produces more than 60 percent of all vegetable, meat and fish being sold in all public markets in Metro Manila. For his part, Vice Gov. Daniel R. Fernando said that although technology keeps on advancing and progress is really where the province is headed to, it is indeed true that people cannot eat buildings and too much reclassification might cause hunger in the long run (Province of Bulacan, 2018).

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The Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado addressed the concern on ‘too much’ land reclassification and conversion of productive land that might affect the food production during the Usapang Agri: “Pangangalaga sa Lupang Sakahan” Forum held at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center on Tuesday.

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Normal storms however made us experience knee-deep floods that sometimes rises to chest-deep. Flooding has always been part of our life in Bocaue and it even became a norm for our family, perhaps also to the whole barangay. Until now, there still hasn’t been reforms that could alleviate this problem so some of the families, including us, in our barangay saved up to elevate our houses so as to save ourselves from the risk of getting flooded again and again. - Sophia Mendoza

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I have cousins who live in a wooden hut-themed house in Malolos, Bulacan. They experience constant flooding and sewage problems due to the immense trash clogging up the pipeways and forming around their streets. It makes them have a difficult time with handling trash in their area. - Juliana Varela

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Scientific Implications of Land Misuse

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As someone who once resided near the river of Bocaue, a day of heavy rains meant flood and high-tide already. I personally could not recall a year wherein we did not experience flooding in our area. Our house had a second floor but when Bagyong Ondoy struck the country in 2009, we almost had to move to our roof and call for rescue.

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Meanwhile, the Philippines has contributed to 36 percent of the plastic waste that ended up in the world's oceans, with the Pasig River identified as the top plastic pollution source, a study has revealed.

According to a peer-reviewed study published in the Science Advances journal, 466 rivers in the country alone are emitting 356,371 metric tons of "mismanaged plastic wastes" annually. Seven of the 10 rivers that contributed plastic pollution in our world's oceans, meanwhile, are located in the Philippines (Manahan, 2021).

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Among the pressing matters cited in the 10-year plan were the need to enforce rules governing the disposal of solid waste, conversion of recyclables into usable products, compliance with segregation at the household and non-household sources, and establishment of a central materials recovery facility (CMRF) in addition to 569 material recovery facilities in the various barangays.

The breakdown of expenses of the province showed its payment for Environmental/Sanitary Services increased from P16.58 million in 2020 to P18.38 million in 2021 (Tabingo, 2022).

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In its 2021 report on the province released last May 26, the Commission on Audit noted that Bulacan failed to implement any of the high-impact programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) listed in its 10-Year Provincial Solid Waste Management Plan (PSWMP) 2021-2030.

The PSWMP was submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 3 on August 19, 2021.

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Scientific Implications of Garbage Problem

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Further, even if there are technological solutions to the problem, the problem will linger if discipline among the people will also not be addressed.

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Although there were efforts of segregation of waste (biodegrable and non-biodegradable), it created no effect as the garbages were only relocated to another town (in Tabang, Malolos).

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There have been proposed solutions (10-Year Provincial Solid Waste Management Plan (PSWMP) 2021-2030) to address the problem, however, it was reported that Bulacan has failed to execute/commit to these in 2021.

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Around March, about 300 sacks of garbage were collected in San Rafael Bulacan’s waterway.

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Garbage Problem

Proper waste disposal, waste management, and segregation has been a problem in the province. It has caused clogging in the drainages, leading to flooding especially in the lowland areas.

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1. Responsible Consumption and Production - Garbage Problem
2. Life on Land - Land Misuse (for Urbanization)

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Some of the goals of this SDG are:

End deforestation and restore degraded forests;

Protect biodiversity and natural habitats;

Increase financial resources to conserve and sustainably use ecosystem and biodiversity, and so on.

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Life on Land gives great importance to our ecosystem. Due to many several factors such as deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation, we have caused great damage to it. Not only will promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity help our world flourish, but it is an essential key to our survival.

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Some of the goals of this SDG are:

Halve global per capita food waste;

Responsible management of chemicals and waste;

Substantially reduce waste generation, and so on.

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! Responsible Consumption and Production discusses how we, as humans, are not taking care of our natural resources. We are not able to utilize them responsibly and in an efficient manner that will save our planet. We must also learn how to consume our natural resources such as food, water and more properly, as well as involve ourselves in waste management that will help for the betterment of our world.

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1. Responsible Consumption and Production
2. Life on Land

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Tourism: Being the home of many notable heroes and national artists, Bulacan is also being visited by the people. Historical houses, churches, parks, and landscapes are one of the tourist attractions in the province.

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Agriculture: Because of its rich land, their agriculture has been also used to supply Metro Manila’s agricultural needs. Rice, meat, and vegetables are ones which are mostly supplied by the province.

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Businesses: Bulacan has been deemed as the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) capital of the Philippines because of its wide variety of products offered such as firecrackers, jewelry, sweets delicacies, feeeds, and many more.

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Population: As of 2020, the province has 3,708,890 population. San Jose del Monte City contributes 17.75% of the population, the largest among the 24 towns in the province.

Those age groups which ranges from 5-9 years old is recorded as the highest population while the age group of 80 years and above is the lowest.

Of 100 working population, there are about 45 that are dependent, while 7 out of 100 are senior citizens.

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There are two divisions for Bulacan’s land use.

(1) Alienable and Disposable (A&D) - used for people to live in, agricultural, industrial, and economic purposes.

(2) Forest Lands - land that are to be protected and preserved by the government (these lands are located in the eastern part of DRT (Doña Remedios Trinidad) and Norzagaray

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There are three divisions of municipalities depending on the area they are located.

(1) Coastal Areas - Bulakan, Hagonoy, City of Malolos, Paombong and Obando

(2) Lowland/Central Areas - Balagtas, Baliwag, Bocaue, Bustos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Marilao, City of Meycauayan, Pandi, Plaridel, Pulilan, and Santa Maria

(3) Upland Areas - Angat, DRT, Norzagaray, San Ildefonso, City of San Jose Del Monte, San Miguel and San Rafael.

The location of Bulacan altogether is strategically located as it is equally proximate to north and south parts of Luzon.

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History: Bulacan during the precolonial period was already abundant with bulak (cotton) which suggested its name. The province was also home to ample amount of flowers hence denoted as “bulaklakin”, alluding its name. Furthermore, the fishermen once lived in Bulacan during the Spanish occupation later on became farmers of the province and fostered rich orchards and other flowering plants.