With a surface area of 437 sqm, Siargao is made up of 48 islands and islets and holds a total of 9 municipalities.

Siargao’s waste management issue needs to be addressed before it leads to irreversible adverse effects on the state of the island, its livelihood and residents. 

Improper waste management leads to land and water pollution. Beautiful landscapes and clear beach waters are the two main factors that attract local and international tourists. With tourism being one of Siargao’s main sources of income, the urge to preserve these resources are strong. Aside from this, Siargao has limited water sources as it is so water pollution poses a big threat to their potable water system. According to DR. Melinda Palencia of DOST,  “most septic tanks in the island have a bottomless design which allows wastewater to quickly seep through the ground. This poses a higher risk of contamination in freshwater and seawater.”  An increase in land and water pollution also threatens the island’s rich biodiversity.

Poor waste management also contributes to the obstruction of drains in the island. Because of Siargao’s geographical location and low elevation, the country is vulnerable to typhoons and surges. Issues in drainage will contribute to the island’s flood problems. 

Siargao is also opening up its borders to tourists for the first time after the Typhoon Odette crisis, which is why an increase in plastic pollution from face masks and personal protective equipment is easily foreseeable.

The article states that authorities halted the operation of a two-hectare dumpsite in Sitio Santa Rosa due to an abundant amount of untreated waste. Operations of the dumpsite violated the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which prohibits open dumping of waste. Moreover, the law states this act also states that waste should be disposed of in a materials recovery facility or a sanitary landfill. 

However, the municipality could not afford to operate its own sanitary landfill which led to the town’s former mayor offering the lot as an alternative dumpsite.

In the defense of the local government operating the dumpsite, they argued that they were not prepared for the amount of garbage brought in by the sudden influx of tourists on the Island.

More articles related to issues with waste disposal: 

Why does it need to be addressed?

Water is one of the basic necessities as human beings. The absence of clean, potable water dents a hole in our health, agriculture, and livelihood. Water shortages and interruption are common in the island of Siargao and are a pressing issue that needs to be faced immediately. More especially now that Siargao is still recovering from Typhoon Odette, which completely devastated the island with its aftermath, leaving the island thirstier than it was before. There was an increase in the incidence of diarrhea due to the water shortage caused by the Typhoon. Additionally, this is an issue that may progress even more as Siargao opens up its borders to tourists once again as the demand for water further increases. 

More than half of Siargao’s residential population are highly dependent on fresh springs and groundwater for their fresh water supply. However, due to the local climate and problems with water collection, potable

Water shortage is a recurring issue for the island’s residents. Fresh springs usually dry up from June to September and groundwater sources are often infiltrated with saline water or wastewater from poor waste management.

According to Rudy Figuron (Catangnan Resident), “This is an endless problem in our town. This frequent problem is still not solved and this would discourage investors.”

Residents in the barangay have also turned to rainwater collection and buying potable water by the bucket.

More articles related to the issues in water supply:

Although solid waste contributes to the accumulation of wastewater, the Eco-sep system funded by the DOST does not address the solid waste problem present that is independent from this issue, such as the extensive use of single use plastic. 

https://surigaodelnorte.gov.ph/geography/