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Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches (Researched by: Zsecainah Sira & Ziba Sarona)

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URL: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/10/1532/pdf&ved=2ahUKEwioivSmhIf9AhXYS2wGHboYBX0QFnoECFoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1PkL02Ioj2_4caXi3Eeyxj
TITLE: Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines
AUTHOR: Frank T. Acot, Jr., Recca E. Sajorne, Nur-Ayn K. Omar, Peter D. Suson, Lynn Esther E. Rallos,

and Hernando P. Bacosa

DATE: October 19, 2022
KEY CONTENT: This study aimed to investigate plastic pollution in urban and rural beaches in Sarangani Bay, Philippines. The study highlights the emerging environmental concern of plastic pollution in the Philippines, particularly in urban beaches, and the need for proper waste management strategies to address this issue.

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WASTE MANAGEMENT (Researched by: John Paul Dumandan)

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URL: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid021DmQZZnbNExUPE8jaHtppKSqTHZdyXmC6gMoUesNXhy3cKL5UPtDKRFdSVnNxRbAl&id=716461365074866&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6
TITLE: WASTE MANAGEMENT
AUTHOR: Mark Perandos (SunStar Davao)
DATE: February 1, 2023
KEY CONTENT:
According to the social media post by SunStar Davao, only 5 out of 182 barangays in Davao have a functioning Material Recovery Facility(MRF). Caused of a lack of facilities for turning in waste, residents are unable to segregate their waste which contributes to Davao's growing waste problems.

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Davao City’s garbage is fast piling up (Researched by: Hilaiza Marjorie Pañales)

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URL:
https://davaotoday.com/environment/davao-citys-garbage-is-fast-piling-up-group/
TITLE: Davao City’s garbage is fast piling up
AUTHOR: Kath M. Cortez
DATE: June 03, 2019
KEY CONTENT:
This article talks about how the waste in Davao City is rapidly increasing due to the increase in population and the negligence of the proper waste disposal of many. According to the article, this increase in waste is also because most people tend to neglect proper segregation of waste, thinking it will be good enough for them to throw their garbage in the trash bin.

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines - An environmentalist group has admonished of the increasing piling up of garbage in the city, triggered by a growing population, public neglect of proper waste disposal and lack of implementation of environmental ordinances.

The group, Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) Inc. said that based on the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) 2018 record, the city's volume of waste generated averages 1,012 tons a day daily collection would only cover only 292 tons a day.

IDIS Policy Advocacy Officer, Amelou Dawn Catague said the problematic system of waste management was due to the lack of follow up on ordinances and the passive attitude of people.

"Many of the people, even if they are aware of the proper waste disposal become complacent in their responsibility to our environment. They thought that if they throw their garbage to the trash cans without segregation, it's ok," said Catague.

IDIS said it would remind the public on their waste responsibility "as the population and economy in the city is growing fast ever since President Rodrigo Duterte was elected".

IDIS said the city's sanitary landfill has already reached the maximum capacity level of 900,000 tons of garbage in 2016.

"Supposed to be, the landfill should only have 700,000 to 800,000 tons of garbage but through the years the garbage disposal problem has become bigger and bigger," Catague added.

The landfill's current the situation, according to IDIS "is very alarming" saying there was no action done to solve the problem, aside from the proposed P2.5 billion waste-to-energy incineration project through a grant from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

No Burn Pilipinas, along with its member pro-environmental advocates in the city, has warned about the project, however, saying some WTE projects have failed in the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.

But environmental group Panalipdan Mindanao said "the problem of garbage in the city may also be attributed to poverty" pointing at retail packs of products consumed by the public in both urban and rural communities.

Prof. Kim Gargar told Davao Today, that emerging cities like Davao "is not alien to plastic waste as many of urban resident tend to buy retail products for their daily needs due to poverty".

"These retail plastic containers are mostly thrown and not recycled," said Gargar.

In 2015, the Ocean Conservancy Charity and the Mckinsey Centre for Business and Environment reported that the Philippines is the third country in Asia next to China and Indonesia to have the largest volume of discarded plastics that end up in the ocean.

The country generates a total of 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually.

Gargar said the city has already been doing garbage collection "yet it lacks the facilities to initiate the recycling of garbage for both household and industrial use".

While the city promotes WTE as a solution to curve down garbage problem, Panalipdan pushed to maximize local scientists to come up with a more helpful solution of garbage "that is more beneficial and eco-friendly".

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Davao City's garbage is fast piling up - group | Davao Today

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines - An environmentalist group has admonished of the increasing piling up of garbage in the city, triggered by a growing population, public neglect of proper waste disposal and lack of implementation of environmental ordinances. The group, Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) Inc.

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Davao City waste-to-energy project to fuel climate change, groups warn (Researched by: Karol Raiza Oraiz)

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URL: https://tinyurl.com/3sjbtx3j
TITLE: Davao City waste-to-energy project to fuel climate change, groups warn
AUTHOR: Geela Garcia
DATE: May 15, 2022
KEY CONTENT:
This article talks about the waste-to-energy project in Davao City's landfill. In 2023, the dump will be at its total capacity due to the poor waste segregation of the City and its rapid urbanization. Therefore it will be deemed unserviceable to those living there and earning money from the said landfill. However, the landfill and WTE area help manage the waste in the City.

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Hundreds of garbage flies infest homes, flying from waste to food, to children. The decaying stench of the dumpsite lingers as families eat. It was almost noon and waste pickers like Virgilio Romero*, 44, scavenge waste on the mountain of garbage under the scorching 51-degree celsius heat.

This is the everyday scene at the eleven-year-old seven-hectare sanitary landfill located in New Carmen, Tugbok - Davao City's only sanitary landfill.

According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the city generates around 900 tons of garbage per day, and waste pickers like Romero find a living by recycling the dumpsite's overflowing waste.

"This has been our family's livelihood since we moved to the city. It was what was expected as I didn't finish my studies, and there weren't any suitable jobs for me since I do not have a degree," said Romero.

Romero comes from a family of landless peasants in Mati, Davao Oriental, tilling farmland less than a hectare in size. He doesn't earn money from working in the field and is only paid for his labor with a portion of their produce.

At New Carmen, he takes home P200 daily for scavenging for plastics, cans, and sacks for 11 hours from 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. Romero said that life as a waste picker hasn't been easy, but it's better compared to not earning anything when he was a farmer.

However, by 2023, the landfill where Romero resides and finds a living will be unserviceable as the rapid urbanization and poor waste segregation of Davao will drive it to its full capacity.

And as a response to the city's waste crisis, the local government of Davao City plans to construct a P2.5 billion waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, funded by a Japanese loan, on a 10-hectare property in Biao Escuela in the Tugbok District.

The landfill will be closed down and converted to a segregation area for the WTE facility, and over 100 waste pickers will be asked to leave.

"We don't know what will happen to us and our homes. They started measuring houses and promised to compensate us for P30,000. Until now, they don't have a concrete plan for us," said Romero.

Waste fueling the climate crisis
Mountain of trash at the New Carmen dumpsite
The local government eyes the WTE incinerator as a "long-term solution" to its solid waste problem. By burning household garbage, household wastes would replace coal and oil in producing energy.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace and Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project, however, oppose this technology because the burning of non-biodegradable wastes is no different from burning fossil fuels. Plastics, after all, are made from fossil fuels.

Marian Ledesma, a zero-waste campaigner of Greenpeace, said that the whole concept and scheme of burning waste for energy is unnecessarily costly and counter to the idea of reducing waste.

"It even encourages cities to produce more waste, because these incinerators would require a minimum amount on a daily and weekly basis to produce energy," she said.

Ledesma said that the WTE incinerator also goes against the country's Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, a law designed to promote zero-waste practices and waste segregation. On top of this, it is also prohibited under Section 20 of the Clean Air Act.

"WTE projects are an easy way out to address the waste crisis. And it attempts to address the waste problem without changing problematic parts of the system, beginning from plastic production," she said.

The European Commission has also been defunding WTE incinerator projects because of the realization that such facilities do not contribute to climate action and instead even worsen the climate crisis.

Ledesma said that perhaps the reason that groups and loans are pushing for WTE projects in developing countries like the Philippines is that this technology is already being questioned in developed nations.

"If you look at WTE, it's no longer included in EU sustainable economic activities. And because they're not able to market in their region, they push that narrative in poorer regions where laws and policies have not yet decided if the technology is eco-friendly. They are banking and trying to find a way of investment elsewhere," she explained.

She also flagged that most often these types of projects are also located in low-income areas where communities are more vulnerable to suffering from climate impacts as a result of dirty technology.

No proper consultation
Biao Escuela is an agricultural community surrounded by banana and coconut plantations. Residents rely on growing poultry and farming for their livelihood.
The WTE facility will be constructed at Biao Escuela, a 10-hectare of agricultural land south of Davao. The proposed site is only 2.2 kilometers away from the barangay's school and 550m from the planned relocation site.

Jill Banta, regional coordinator for Mindanao of the Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project said that the construction of the facility may also have long-term effects on residents of Biao Escuela and nearby communities.

"Persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins and furans are produced when plastics are burned. This can cause respiratory and reproductive diseases, birth defects, and cancer to the already marginalized low-income agricultural communities in Biao Escuela," said Banta.

"Beyond the community, its toxic by-products may reach our plates through the food chain because food and poultry products are sourced in Biao Escuela," she added.

Nerea Tagunon*, 60, is a sari-sari store owner at Biao Escuela. Her family moved to the community three years ago after having been displaced from their homes due to road widening in Catalunan Grande, Davao.

Tagunon and her neighbors weren't properly consulted about the project, and it's common for residents of Biao Escuela to make uninformed decisions because of the lack of consultation with the local government.

Residents think that the facility to be built is a plastic recycling factory, providing them employment. And while the WTE project may give them jobs, what residents do not know is that the facility can only employ people with engineering backgrounds.

"I think having the waste-to-energy incinerator project here would be helpful to our community because it will give us jobs," said Tagunon.

"From the demographics of their community, who are mostly agricultural workers, poultry growers, and laborers, the only job they could secure would be short-term construction jobs for the facility," said Banta.

Tagunon has lost hope to fight for their homes and their right to proper relocation.

"If it's going to smell, then what difference would it make? The river here stinks from poultry waste, so the smell of burning plastic is not going to matter. We'll just be a place where you could inhale all the chemicals and bad odor. Let the government do whatever they want, we can't do anything about it anymore," Tagunon said hopelessly.

The 60-year-old resident however admitted that if they were to be properly consulted, she would prefer for the project not to push through.

"Of course, nobody would want to be exposed to that hazard, nobody would want to inhale all that waste. But we have already been displaced in the past, and it's not like people like me still have a say," she said.

A few meters away from Tagunon lives Esmelita Roxas* 70, who, like Tagunon, knows little about the project.

"I'm worried about the effects of the incinerator, but our barangay captain said that the technology worked in Japan. We're just putting our trust in him," said Roxas.

"And even if we're against it, we can't do anything about it because we're only ordinary citizens. We'll be fighting against powerful people. At this point, we're only praying that if it pushes through, we won't be left behind."

Working zero-waste solutions

Ledesma and Banta said that the waste problem in Davao and the Philippines can be solved without burning plastics, especially when 50% of Davao's waste is biodegradable, and while 200 to 300 tons of its landfill waste is food waste.

Davao-based agronomist Peter Damary of Limadol introduced using black soldier flies to handle food waste by developing a natural insect protein for poultry that utilizes biodegradable waste from the landfill.

They collect a total of 400-700 kgs of food waste from restaurants and households at Barangay Mintal and Barangay Tacunan four times a week which they feed to the black soldier flies in their facility.

Black soldier flies consume food waste and produce a byproduct called frass which is useful as feeds for poultry or as organic fertilizers.

"At the start, it was very difficult, because people didn't really segregate their waste. They were used to dumping everything because no one was in charge of segregating, and collectors just combine already segregated waste with each other," said Damary.

From only collecting 60 kilograms twice a week in February 2021, Damary's small business now collects 150 kgs of food waste three or four times a week.

"We were able to address this problem by being strict about our collection. We took the time to educate households to segregate food waste, and eventually, they picked it up," he added.

Today Limadol collects food waste from over 200 households and five restaurants around Barangay Mintal and Barangay Tacunan.

Damary said that their system works because they are consistent. According to him, people needed consistency so that they would be driven to follow.

He recalled that in the beginning, some households would still mix non-biodegradable waste with biodegradables, and to show their commitment, they didn't pick up food waste that wasn't well segregated.

"They eventually followed, and they are now very enthusiastic about it," said Damary.

When food decomposes anaerobically in landfills, it creates methane, a major global warming gas.

According to the organization Extra Food, every 100 pounds of food waste in landfills produces 8.3 pounds of methane into the atmosphere. And in over 20 years, methane has 86 times the global warming effect of carbon dioxide.

"Methane from food waste contributes to the climate crisis, and if we have systems in place then this initiative will not only be beneficial for waste management but also climate mitigation," explained Damary

An odorless landfill powered by a bio activator is also segregating tons of biodegradable waste from industrial companies and restaurants an hour away from Barangay Mintal.

Aimea Lumpay, plant manager of Davao Thermo Biotech, said that their composting facility uses a patented YMO activator from Japan.

"We mix our YMO activator with collected biodegradable waste to treat them together. By doing this, we hasten the composting of biodegradable waste and eliminate hazardous waste such as leachate from contaminating the environment," explained Lumpay.

Biodegradables are converted into biofertilizers within 45 days, and the reaction of the food waste to the bio activator heats the mixture to a high temperature which destroys pathogenic bacteria, making their fertilizer organic, clean, and safe.

Currently, Davao Thermo Biotech collects industrial waste from several poultry farms and restaurants. They treat 50MT of industry and food waste daily.

They also have a few household subscribers, and the technology can also be adapted at a household level, but the problem is not a lot of homes are willing to pay to have their garbage collected and treated so they don't end up in landfills.

"As of now, we have 55 households subscribed to our waste management facility. We pick up their biodegradable waste for them, and in exchange, we give them one of our products which they can use for their gardens at home," said Lumpay.

Banta said that the projects of Limadol and Davao Thermo Biotech prove that there are already working zero-waste solutions that are less harmful to the environment being implemented.

"Instead of using people's money to fund environmentally destructive projects, the government should instead invest in solutions that are already in place," said Banta.

"The projects of Limadol and Davao Thermo Biotech need not have huge large facilities, and if these are implemented on a large scale, then there would not even be a need to construct WTE facilities," added Banta.

The Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project regional coordinator also emphasized that while these initiatives work for biodegradable wastes, the problem of non-biodegradable waste can be addressed by strict implementation of banning single-use plastics and pressuring corporations to replace their packaging.

Corporations should invest in solutions that are centered on reuse-based packaging such as refillable. They can show this by not relying on false "green" solutions but committing to establishing sustainable systems.

Banta also said that before the sachet economy reached the Philippines, Filipino communities already had a culture of refilling in sari-sari stores, but because of the shift in packaging by fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, this changed.

"Didn't we have that deposit system for carbonated drinks in glass bottles before? It was even practiced in far-flung rural communities. We can enforce zero-waste solutions, but corporations and lawmakers lack the will," said Banta.

Seventy-two percent of the 2022 national budget for solid waste management will be dedicated to the WTE of Davao.

"That's too much of a budget for a regional project that is environmentally destructive. Imagine if we reallocate our budget and invest in low-cost zero-waste solutions that are already in place," said Banta.

She also stressed that a large part of the money could have also been used for training waste workers in zero-waste projects, giving them the proper solid waste management training, and increasing their salaries and benefits.

"Waste management plays a large role in the climate crisis because the life cycle of a product or waste is already producing carbon emissions, which is why just energy transition also means hiring more waste workers, integrating waste workers in zero-waste projects, and institutionalizing their work," said Banta.

Role of waste pickers in the climate crisis

Back in New Carmen, Romero said that while he isn't familiar with climate change, he's sure that their work as waste pickers contributes to addressing the waste problem.

"I'm not sure about numbers, but perhaps, waste pickers like me address climate change by 50% because we recycle everything that we could find," said Romero.

Beyond the destructive environmental repercussions of the WTE project, Banta and Ledesma are also concerned about the consequences to workers in the formal and informal waste industry.

"We already have people doing the waste picking and the recycling, and there are also groups who upcycle, recycle, and compost. What will happen to them when this project is given a go signal?" asked Banta.

Romero said that instead of removing them from their livelihood, the local government can show their appreciation by providing them the support that they need to continue doing their livelihood.

"We aren't protected from our jobs, we go to work without proper equipment, we even step our bare feet on broken glass just so we could find a living, but still we can recycle a relevant amount of waste without much help," he said.

"What we need is an aid in terms of food, shelter, and even medicine because we earn so little, so that we may continue working," added Romero.

Romero recalled that their measly income isn't even enough for his family to afford electricity. But at least he finds disposed candles in the landfill which they recycle and lights at night.

"Sometimes we even find broken solar panels in the landfill. We fix them, and they give our homes power and electricity," said Romero.

Ledesma said that waste pickers are knowledgeable of the integrity of materials found in disposal sites, that's why they should play a significant role in redesigning systems.

"Without us, nobody would dare touch our wastes. And if we're displaced of our livelihood, you're also removing hands directly reversing climate change," said Romero.
*Names were changed to protect identities
This story was supported by Climate Tracker and FES Philippines

Geela Garcia is a freelance multimedia journalist and peasant advocate based in Manila.

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Davao City waste-to-energy project to fuel climate change, groups warn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Davao City generates around 900 tons of garbage per day, and waste pickers like Romero find a living by recycling the dumpsite's overflowing waste.

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The Philippines has a plastic pollution crisis on its hands and poverty makes it even worse (Researched by: John Paul Dumandan)

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URL: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3025486/philippines-has-plastic-pollution-crisis-and-poverty-makes
TITLE: The Philippines has a plastic pollution crisis on its hands and poverty makes it even worse
AUTHOR: South China Morning Post
DATE: September 3, 2019
KEY CONTENT:
This news article by South China Morning Post shows how poverty fuels the plastic pollution crisis and how companies exploit them to increase sales and that Philippine lawmakers have been unable to pass laws banning single-use plastics. Environmentalists also say that consumer preference also contributes to the plastic crisis in the Philippines.

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Filipinos throw away enough sachets per year to cover 130,000 soccer fields

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Single-use sachets are sold in most developing countries but the number consumed in the Philippines is staggering - 163 million pieces a day.

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Davao City sanitary landfill, halos mapuno na ng basura (Researched by: Ziba Sarona)

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTf8n_RKr3g
TITLE: Davao City sanitary landfill, halos mapuno na ng basura
AUTHOR: News5Everywhere
DATE: September 19, 2022
KEY CONTENT:
This NEWS 5 PH news segment discusses how Davao City's four hectares of sanitary landfill may only be accessible until 2023 due to the tons of garbage thrown on the site daily, where waste pickers earn a living off the dumpsite's overflowing waste. According to them, the quantity of waste produced daily doubles as the population grows.

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Davao City sanitary landfill, halos mapuno na ng basura

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Waste Disposal Crisis | Discussion | Landfills rapidly filling up (Researched by: Hilaiza Marjorie Pañales)

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URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbNWjWyGvDI
TITLE:  Waste Disposal Crisis | Discussion | Landfills rapidly filling up
AUTHOR: eNCA
DATE: April 19, 2022
KEY CONTENT:
This news segment from eNCA talks about how Africa's Landfills are filling up rapidly due to the constant improper waste disposal and how facilities in charge of these Landfills have never been well run for up to 20 years thus, putting the country at risk. Davao City is also facing a similar crisis considering the neglect of proper waste disposal/segregation that caused many Landfills in Davao to pile up. However, the facilities and most people take little to no notice of such issues.

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Waste Disposal Crisis | Discussion | Landfills rapidly filling up

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Let's Make L.I.M.P.Y.O. FUN RUN (Researched by: Stief Aldree Bitong)

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URL: https://cenro.davaocity.gov.ph/?p=175&fbclid=IwAR3tOvVeCzjbJcw5ZMmlGc1b2ND9qHHVlAd-Tr1b1sTwB5g7ngTzCb2edBU
TITLE: Let's Make L.I.M.P.Y.O. FUN RUN
AUTHOR: City Environment and Natural Resources Management Office
DATE: Uploaded on March 15, 2017

KEY CONTENT:
Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Management Office Advocacy Campaign for Solid Waste Management, dubbed as Let's Make L.I.M.P.Y.O established its poster to disseminate information about their fun run event. L.I.M.P.Y.O means: Lean towards a cleaner and greener community; Implement proper solid waste management; Mobilize advocates and ambassadors; Promote initiatives for environmental conservation; Yes to the enforcement of R.A. 9003; and Organize activities and projects to nurture nature. This fun run is one of the campaign's events, alongside workshops and seminars to promote citywide engagement of citizens for environmental conservation, a less polluted and cleaner city.

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FUN RUN!!
An advocacy campaign for Solid Waste Management In partnership with The City Environment and Natural Resources Management Office
FUN RUN DETAILS:

DATE: March 19, 2017

TIME:4:00 AM (REGISTRATION)

4:30 AM (WARM-UP)

5:00 AM to 8:00 AM (FUN RUN PROPER)

PLACE: PEOPLE'S PARK

ROUTE OF EVENT

FOR 3K: People's Park - Pelayo St. - Quirino Ave. - J.P. Laurel Ave. - Gaisano Mall of Davao - Back to People's Park

FOR 5K: People's Park - Pelayo St. - Quirino Ave. - J.P. Laurel Ave. - Victoria Plaza - Back to People's Park

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FUN RUN!! An advocacy campaign for Solid Waste Management In partnership with The City Environment and Natural Resources Management Office FUN RUN DETAILS: DATE: March 19, 2017 TIME:4:00 AM (REGISTRATION) 4:30 AM (WARM-UP) 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM (FUN RUN PROPER) PLACE: PEOPLE'S PARK ROUTE OF EVENT FOR 3K: People's Park - Pelayo St.

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Southern Innovator Magazine Issue 5: Waste and Recycling: Improving Human Development with Finite Resources (Researched by: Karol Raiza Oraiz)

# data[].attributes.body
URL: https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=6ILdAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=waste+disposal+issues+due+to+urbanization+in+the+philippines+magazines&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi009CAzoj9AhVjklYBHYPwC3UQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=waste%20disposal%20issues%20due%20to%20urbanization%20in%20the%20philippines%20magazines&f=false
TITLE: Southern Innovator Magazine Issue 5: Waste and Recycling: Improving Human Development with Finite Resources
AUTHOR: David South
DATE: Feb 17, 2014
KEY CONTENT:
The article specifies how rapid urbanization creates waste issues, especially in cities. It says that more people who arrive in cities demand more goods and services thus using up more products generating more waste. Therefore this creates a huge issue in waste management and sanitation.

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Southern Innovator Magazine Issue 5: Waste and Recycling

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Launched in May 2011, the new global magazine Southern Innovator is about the people across the global South shaping our new world, eradicating poverty and working towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).They are the innovators.Issue 1 covered the theme of mobile phones and information technology.

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Waste-to-energy project in Davao City to fuel climate change, groups warn (Researched by: Ziba Sarona)

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URL: https://climatetracker.org/waste-to-energy-project-in-davao-city-to-fuel-climate-change-groups-warn/
TITLE: Waste-to-energy project in Davao City to fuel climate change, groups warn
AUTHOR: Geela Garcia
DATE: May 16, 2022
KEY CONTENT:
Despite being acknowledged as one of the cleanest cities in the country, Davao City has its share of environmental challenges, notably in waste management. This blog article reveals how the city's waste problem is escalating, considering that it is quickly expanding as its population increases.

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Waste-to-energy project in Davao City to fuel climate change, groups warn - climatetracker

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And as a response to the city's waste crisis, the local government of Davao City plans to construct a P2.5 billion waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, funded by a Japanese loan, on a 10-hectare property in Biao Escuela in the Tugbok District.

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Looking Into the Solid Waste Management of Purok Sto. Niño, Buhangin, Davao City –Environmental Vlog (Researched by: Karol Raiza Oraiz)

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U-7C2Nhfgs
TITLE: Looking Into the Solid Waste Management of Purok Sto. Niño, Buhangin, Davao City –Environmental Vlog
AUTHOR: Nicole Andre Luczon
DATE: Dec 21, 2020
KEY CONTENT:
The Vlog shows us the solid waste management of Purok Sto. Niño, Buhangin, Davao City. They have delved into the problem of the area and their solid waste management issue wherein the people do not know how to throw and segregate trash properly. At the end of the video, they give tips and solutions for how to solve this issue.

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Optimal Process Network for Integrated Solid Waste Management in Davao City, Philippines (Researched by: Stief Aldree Bitong)

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URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2419
(if URL does not open, Download the PDF)
TITLE: Optimal Process Network for Integrated Solid Waste Management in Davao City, Philippines
AUTHOR: Kristin Faye Olalo, Jun Nakatani, Tsuyoshi Fujita

DATE: Published on February 20, 2022
KEY CONTENT:
This academic journal analyzes and determines the efficacies of the performance of various methods of solid waste management in mitigating adverse environmental consequences of waste pollution.
Furthermore, this study also determines the maximization when Municipal Solid Waste Management systems are sustainably implemented in Davao City and how factors need to be considered to implement a flexible MSWM system to fit the city's socioeconomic conditions. This study utilizes statistical data to analyze and compare the estimated GHG emissions from the past and future, determining the specific procedures needed for types of waste to minimize its presence in the environment, and many more.

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Davao Region Development Plan (2017-2022) (Researched by: Zsecainah Sira, Stief Aldree O. Bitong, & Ziba Sarona)

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URL: https://neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/11-Davao-RDP-2017-2022.pdf
TITLE: Davao Region Development Plan (2017-2022)
AUTHOR: National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
DATE: January 2018
KEY CONTENT:
This website outlines the region's goals and strategies for growth and sustainable development over the next five years. The plan aims to achieve these goals through various measures, such as enhancing economic competitiveness, promoting inclusivity and social services, protecting the environment, improving governance, ensuring peace and security, and developing infrastructure.

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Davao city has a waste crisis. Is burning garbage the way to go? (Researched by: Hilaiza Marjorie Pañales)

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XIV. NGO OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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XIV. NGO OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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URL: https://atenews.ph/davao-city-has-a-waste-crisis-is-burning-waste-the-way-to-go

TITLE:  Davao city has a waste crisis. Is burning garbage the way to go?
AUTHOR: Gwyneth Marie Vasquez
DATE: February 26, 2021
KEY CONTENT:
According to this article, it is not only the population that's a significant factor in the increase of waste in Davao. Business establishments also have a significant part in this issue. Due to this increase, engineers had no choice but to doze the waste further into the landfill to avoid it spilling onto the streets.

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Davao city has a waste crisis. Is burning garbage the way to go?

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Every night for 17 years, Rosello Ingai donned his worn rubber boots. Covered in a long sleeved shirt and trousers with a head lamp fixed on his brow, an

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How do LGUs in the Philippines Plan Solid Waste Management? (Researched by: Zsecainah Sira) 

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URL: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0e1Oer1q4QhPNYmzaJtJw0?si=e3cc8d520a504fa2
TITLE: How do LGUs in the Philippines Plan Solid Waste Management?
AUTHOR: Filipino Urban Planning
DATE: June 5, 2021
KEY CONTENT:
This podcast describes how majority of the LGUs in the Philippines handle the timeless case of improper solid waste management and uses Quezon City's blueprint as an example. Moreover, with this context, leaders from different localities follows this procedure and some with even modified practices.

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LGU plans for Solid Waste Management: The Case of Quezon City

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Listen to this episode from Filipino Urban Planning With EnPTinio on Spotify. How do local governments in the Philippines plan solid waste management? What tools and instruments are available to LGUs in planning waste management? What do these plans look like? Local governments in the Philippines have three major plans in which solid waste management is integrated.

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WEBINAR: FLATTENING THE WASTE AND COVID-19 CURVE HIGHLIGHTS (Researched by: Ziba Sarona)

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URL: https://idisphil.org/webinar-flattening-the-waste-and-covid-19-curve-highlights/
TITLE: WEBINAR: FLATTENING THE WASTE AND COVID-19 CURVE HIGHLIGHTS
AUTHOR: Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability
DATE: September 11, 2020
KEY CONTENT:
This webinar covers the guidelines and updates on handling and appropriately disposing of medical/healthcare waste during the pandemic. This can help us cultivate a safer environment and raise awareness among people on fighting and preventing waste disposal problems in Davao City.

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Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc.

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Proper waste management is one of the prevailing issues during this pandemic. The current COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, thus intensifying its impact upon the world's healthcare systems and economy. During this time, ensuring reliable and safe municipal solid waste management services provision is a must for all local governments to protect public health and contain the spread of the virus. There are many questions regarding the management of household and hospital wastes that could be impacted by the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. Generally, the management of wastes should continue as normal. Care should be taken to limit direct exposure to waste using best management practices. Waste and recyclable material handlers and haulers should continue to wear personal protective equipment including gloves and eye protection while handling solid wastes. The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) organized an online forum Flattening the (Waste and Covid-19) Curve: An Online Forum on Waste Management amidst COVID-19 Pandemic on April 27, 2020, which provides a wonderful opportunity to address the protocols and updates on how are we managing and properly disposing of medical/healthcare wastes during this pandemic, updates about the banning of SUP policy in Davao City.

IDIS invited credible resource personnel. Each speaker is an expert of their respective field. The speakers of the forum were Dr. Sophie Manuel (EMB Region 11 Director), Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., Engr. Lakandiwa Orcullo (CENRO IEC-Head), Curtis Lazarraga the Chief of Health and Sanitation Division (City Health Office), Aileen Lucero (Ecowaste Coalition). The activity was participated by almost 60 participants.

According to Dr. Sophie Manuel, one of the resource persons of the forum, "any crisis presents the opportunity to help us cultivates compassion and increase resilience while building safer and caring community", with this being said, if we want to contain this pandemic everyone should be part of it and right now, all of us have a contribution in the accumulation of garbage and wastes, a concern was raised in this discussion which is the increasing use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) of medical practitioners and on the latter part plastics for take-out food.

World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) mandates that equipment like PPEs should only be used ones, after that it should properly be disposed of. In connection with this every day, our city is expecting thousands of garbage bags being collected in the hospitals and/or medical facilities, 90-95 trucks per day. Engr. Lakandiwa Orcullo, CENRO-IEC Head, mentioned that garbage collectors are not the one who is in charge of medical waste collection. Since solid waste is defined as non-hazardous it means there is a separate entity that collects these kinds of wastes, this registered transporter were the ones who collects medical waste. They always follow standard protocols such as 15 meters allowance from vehicles to vehicles and also a report of compliance shall be made after collection, for their protection and safety. The registered transporters should be exempted from any travel ban and should also not be hampered by any checkpoints. Right after the collection, this will be directly delivered to Maya Med Waste Corp. a company that Recycles and treats miscellaneous waste products. Going through the discussion, Engr. Lakandiwa Orcullo said the CENRO is in big challenge knowing the risk of the highly contagious disease is in serious disposition for the employees.

"There is really a risk on our garbage collectors here in Davao, the city government considers garbage collection as an essential service to the people despite the quarantine," Orcullo stated.

On the second part of the forum, the question and answer portion, a question was raised by one of the participants stating that there is an increase of plastics for take-out food since everyone resorts to take-out instead of dining in, this was then justified by Ms. Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of Ecowaste Coalition, since relief goods, food delivery is all packed in a single-use plastics. Orcullo doubted that this is true because no statistic will show that it has been increasing. Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., seconded Orcullo's statement, regardless, they still acknowledge that somehow this might be true in some areas, but unfortunately, their hands are tight because of COVID-19. They said, what we can do for now is to reuse and recycle these plastics, there is no way we can repack these relief goods without using single-use plastics. Councilor Mahipus also mentioned that because of the pandemic, the ordinance of Banning-Single-Used-Plastic was postponed, they will not able to implement until such time that submitted condition will best for its approval. Atty. Diosdado Mahipus Jr. reminded the people of our shared responsibility for taking care of the environment. Atty. Mahipus emphasized that we should act as one, especially during this pandemic.

Mr. Curtis Lazarraga, Chief, Health and Sanitation Division, City Health Office, stated that the treatment facility is taking care of the medical waste. CENRO is also taking responsibility for solid waste. While Ms. Lucero explains her concern about the decrease of the statistics of garbage collection may it be hazardous or not because the possibility of transmission of COVID 19 from these wastes is still higher since the virus can stay longer on surfaces. Everyone should be reminded of proper sanitation and safety in this so-called new normal, always wear a mask, wash your hands, physical distancing, and proper disposal of garbage.

The forum covered several issues in proper disposal of garbage may it be hazardous or not and it has been addressed properly. Now the ball is on us, if we are to follow basic protocols in the new normal or not, it may be simple if you think of it, but some of us still try to defy the new normal, maybe it is difficult for us to adapt change in just a little amount of time, perhaps the reason why we are always left behind. It is time to reflect, are we going to continue with our old ways or simply adapt to the change that can save and contain this pandemic?

"The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations." - John Paul II

Below is the full video of the webinar.

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WEBINAR: FLATTENING THE WASTE AND COVID-19 CURVE HIGHLIGHTS - Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc.

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Proper waste management is one of the prevailing issues during this pandemic. The current COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, thus intensifying its impact upon the world's healthcare systems and economy. During this time, ensuring reliable and safe municipal solid waste management services provision is a must for all local governments to protect public health and [...]

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Reviewing City Limits: The Risk Of Rapid Urbanization In Davao City (Researched by: Zsecainah Sira, Karol Raiza Johan G. Oraiz, & Ziba Sarona)

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URL: http://www.ijsred.com/volume2/issue1/IJSRED-V2I1P3.pdf
TITLE: Reviewing City Limits: The Risk Of Rapid Urbanization In Davao City
AUTHOR: Burdeos Mariz V,Alejandrino Mara P,Cababat Charles Ryan
DATE: Jan-Feb 2019
KEY CONTENT: The book talks about how the rapid population growth in urban areas are due to people coming from most rural areas and that the urban infrastructure and health are being compromised. It focuses as a research in Davao City and how its continuous growth as an urban city has affected the elements of urban health, infrastructure, and the environment around.

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Editorial: Urban waste disposal (Researched by: John Paul Dumandan)

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URL: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1783076/cebu/opinion/editorial-urban-waste-disposal
TITLE: Editorial: Urban waste disposal
AUTHOR: Josua Cabrera
DATE: January 15, 2019
KEY CONTENT:
In the editorial cartoon by Josua Cabrera, a certain firm called Davao City Environmental Care Inc. is being issued a cease-and-desist order because of improper waste disposal. This raised the question of who collects the hospital wastes and how and where are they going to be disposed of. These questions expose the weaknesses of the waste disposal management of Metro Cebu.

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Water Supply and Sanitation Practices of The Coastal Barangays of Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur: Basis For Salintubig Program (Researched by: Sira and Bitong)

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URL: https://tinyurl.com/4ke363mz
TITLE: Water Supply and Sanitation Practices of The Coastal Barangays of Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur: Basis For Salintubig Program
AUTHOR: Daisy Besing
DATE: April 2022

KEY CONTENT:
The Salintubig Program, which strives to deliver clean water to disadvantaged communities, has as its foundation the water supply and sanitation practices of the coastal barangays of Santa Ana Cruz Davao Del Sur in the Philippines. The survey's findings, which analyzed the barangays' water supply and sanitation systems and determined the factors influencing their adoption, are presented in this report. The Salintubig Program is required since the survey revealed that most households rely on shallow wells and rainfall catchment systems for their water supply and that sanitation practices are insufficient.

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Philippines' growing problem with plastic (Researched by: Stief Aldree Bitong)

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VIII. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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VIII. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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URL: https://youtu.be/1Fo_CDHjSdk
TITLE: Philippines' growing problem with plastic
AUTHOR: ABS-CBN News
DATE: Uploaded on December 16, 2018
KEY CONTENT:
The video shows the Philippines' growing plastic problem. It shows our country's generated trash and the underlying problem of improper waste segregation. It also offers solutions for this problem in our country and promotes ways to make segregation and trash management accessible to our citizens. These ways will prove incredibly viable in Davao City to control waste in the environment and encourage recycling and converting these wastes into products like chairs to promote environmental conservation and protection.

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Matanglawin: Philippines' growing problem with plastic

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HOW DAVAO CITY FACES ITS GARBAGE CONCERN? (Researched by: Stief Aldree Bitong)

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VIII. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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VIII. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y40EIe0vkR0&t=220s&ab_channel=SunStarDavaoDigital
TITLE: HOW DAVAO CITY FACES ITS GARBAGE CONCERN?
AUTHOR: Sun Star Davao Digital
DATE: Uploaded on September 24, 2021
KEY CONTENT:
This video states that Davao City has produced tons and tons of garbage since March 2020. Yet waste disposal problems and accumulation of trash will continue to multiply unless given a solution. Luckily, the city government and companies have unique solutions and methods of reducing pollution and waste management, like recycling and converting trash for other uses that people can benefit from to improve their quality of life. Another is converting biodegradable waste into agricultural materials.

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HOW DAVAO CITY FACES ITS GARBAGE CONCERN?

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BIN there, THROW that (Researched by: Stief Aldree Bitong)

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/ustmts/photos/a.479404125461597/2384178288317495/?paipv=0&eav=AfYVEqe9WaP5qkEQNjUqKL92XSf8WsYd3N5eON5fGLa3jVzZgUgk-LMbwBe_q03GS6E&_rdr
TITLE: BIN there, THROW that
AUTHOR: Clarissa Pecson
DATE: Posted on October 7, 2019
KEY CONTENT:
Social Media Advocacy Campaign PAKIKISAMA from UST Medical Technology Society uploaded a poster created by Clarissa Pecson to promote proper waste disposal and segregation. The advocacy poster disseminates information about what trash belongs to a particular waste section. This advocacy poster supports & incentivizes appropriate integration of waste management in communities in Davao City that will prove to be effective if continued over time.

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UST Medical Technology Society - Aloha! 🌺  The Medical Technology Society would like to present PAKIKISAMA, a Social Media Advocacy Campaign regarding the effects of improper waste management. This is the first of many posters that we will be presenting in the coming months, and what better way to start it than learning where to throw your trash!   People are reminded almost everyday that they must properly dispose of their trash/wastes. This can be done through proper segregation or through keeping materials that can then be recycled and to be used for other purposes. ♻️  So, if you’ve BIN there and learned it all, now is the time to THROW that trash right and share your knowledge!  #OhanaMT #PaddleOn #RiseAboveTheTide 🌊  Poster by: Clarissa Pecson | Facebook

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Aloha! 🌺

The Medical Technology Society would like to present PAKIKISAMA, a Social Media Advocacy Campaign regarding the effects of improper waste management. This is the first of many posters that...

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How Davao City Faces its Garbage Concern? (Researched by: Zsecainah Sira)

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URL: https://youtube.com/watchv=Y40EIe0vkR0&feature=share
TITLE: How Davao City Faces its Garbage Concern?
AUTHOR: Sun Star Davao Digital
DATE: September 23, 2021
KEY CONTENT:
This documentary talks about the struggle of Davaoeños over the years about the waste disposal management that affects the environment and their economy. In addition, it also tackled about some alternatives to alleviate this certain problem.

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HOW DAVAO CITY FACES ITS GARBAGE CONCERN?