Marie Cris G.

Parao
Science Investigatory Project
Apo Vista Beach Park, Maluay, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental
09496597858

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Household Waste Management

in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, Philippines.

I. ABSTRACT

Four barangays in the municipality of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental were surveyed

to examine the household’s knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP). A literature review of

previous studies of other communities in the Philippines have shown that age, gender, and

household location may be indicators of attitude. Based on these studies and the data

available for Zamboanguita, two hypotheses will be studied:

I. It is hypothesized that age is an indicator of positive attitude towards

household waste management and that gender is not an indicator.

II. It is hypothesized that location (barangay) is an indicator of the

households` attitude towards household waste management.

The purpose of this proposed project is to conduct a statistical analysis of the data

that was gathered in Zamboanguita over 4 years but that has never before been analyzed. It

is hoped that the results of this analysis will contribute solutions to the municipality`s SWM

plan, the implementation policies to address the community`s non-compliance with national

law. Additionally, pending approval, an additional survey of LGU employees will be

conducted and the data will be analyzed.

II. INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE

Improper disposal of solid waste in the Philippines is a significant

environmental problem. The country has the highest trash collection rates in

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Southeast Asia yet it`s the world`s 3rd largest source of plastic leaking into the ocean

(Philstar Global). The Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as “Ecological Solid

Waste Management Act of 2000”, was passed by the Philippine Congress on

December 20, 2000, and was subsequently approved by the Office of the President

on January 26, 2001. This mandates that the Local Government Units are to submit

their 10-year Solid Waste Management (SWM) plans with the approval of National

Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) and implement them within 5

years. Fifteen years have passed since the deadline, but the majority of LGUs in

Negros Oriental have no SWM plan.

Only the Municipality of Bayawan City has planned and implemented its

integrated SWM system with the establishment of a sanitary landfill, a composting

plant for organic matter, a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), and other waste

collection and treatment processes. Bayawan City codify its ordinances supporting

its goals for SWM. By implementing ordinances and teaching the communities and

businesses how to comply, their proactive leaders have effectively address garbage

disposal issues. “Strong leadership from the municipality with “no exceptions” is the

key to success”, Engr. Antonio S. Aguilar Jr. (Manager of Bayawan City Waste

Management and Ecology Center (BCWMEC)). For their leadership in addressing

environmental problems by focusing on concrete actions and investment in facilities

and training, Bayawan City won a national award for SWM, the “2013 Presidential

Lingkod Bayan”.

The Municipality of Zamboanguita is still working on its draft SWM plan. This

study seeks to better understand householders current Knowledge, Attitude, and

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Practices (KAP). Households` knowledge have an impact on their attitude, which

subsequently has an impact on their SWM practices.

A study of a broad population about “SWM Awareness, Attitude, and

Practices in a Philippine Catholic Higher Education Institution” confirmed the

relationship between knowledge and attitude, and the respondents` attitudes on their

SWM practices (Madrigal & Oracion, 2017). In other study focused only on

undergraduate students in a Philippine State University, most students had

satisfactory levels for knowledge (73.4%) and attitude (71.0%), on solid waste

management related matters, less than half (43.1%) showed satisfactory practice

level (Barloa, E., et. al., 2016).

KAP differed mostly based on age according to the study of Madrigal &

Oracion (2017). A study of urban barangays in Sorsogon City found that “older

individuals tend to participate more in SWM practices than younger one” presumably

because “they are more capable in managing waste in their household” (Fellizar &

Jeremias, 2019).

Two studies reached conflicting conclusions about the impact of gender on

SWM (Madrigal & Oracion, 2017) found that gender did not affect KAP from a person

because, it was supposed, that “men and women have equal roles and

responsibilities in the management of their community`s solid waste”. Another study

found that attitudes towards SWM were not significantly different between men and

women local government officials (Macawile & Su, 2009). However, a study from the

Sociodemographic of Two Municipalities towards SWM” states that knowledge and

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practices were influenced by gender (Asequia et. al., 2018).

Nearly all studies on SWM have focused on variables such as age, gender,

educational attainment, household size, and family income. However, another factor

that has only occasionally been studied is the affect household location on KAP.

According to the study of Asequia et. al., (2018), 2 municipalities with household

respondents living along the coast had low levels of SWM practices. Another study

that was conducted in Barangay Pansol (an area of farming activities and has

plantation of sugar cane which is far from the coast) found that most of the

households were already segregating and reusing their waste.

In an interview with Engr. Antonio S. Aguilar (Parao, 2021) who manage

BCWMEC for many years, he clearly stated that LGU, particularly the mayor should

have a strong leadership to ensure that the household improves their KAP and to

implement penalties without exceptions for people violating SWM ordinances. In

contrast, the study of Macawile & Su, (2009) showed that only slightly more than half

(52%) of the local government officials in Dasmariñas, Cavite greatly perceived that

the initiation and the responsibility of resolving their community`s solid waste

problems lies in the hands of the community leaders and members.” It should be

noted that under RA 9003 “LGUs are primarily responsible for the effective and

efficient SWM, particularly garbage segregation and disposal.” The LGUs are guided

on the existing legal frameworks involving the SWM and these are Republic Act No.

9003 and the DENR Administrative Order No. 2001-34 or the “Implementing rules

and regulations of RA 9003”. Moreover, the law states the important role of LGUs in

dealing SWM.

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III. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

This study examines the households` knowledge, attitudes, and practices

(KAP) in 4 Barangays in the municipality of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

III. It is hypothesized that age is an indicator of positive attitude towards

household waste management and that gender is not an indicator.

IV. It is hypothesized that location (barangay) is an indicator of the

households` attitude towards household waste management.

Based on the literature review that were read and compared, it is anticipated

that this research study will show the different attitudes based on age, and not with

gender. Also, it seeks answers whether the location has an impact to the attitudes of

households. Finally, it will provide an overall indication of the attitude of the

Zamboanguita households that were surveyed.

IV. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The municipality of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental consists of 10 barangays

with a total population of 27, 552 people (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2015).

Household surveys about household waste management were conducted in 4

barangays over 4 years. The respondents of the studies were households from

the barangay who were mostly living along the coasts. There were total of 190

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 households responding: 53 were in-person household interviews and 137

households were given self-completed questionnaires.

This study was gathered but never analyzed. This study will use the data for

statistical analysis to search correlation between the survey respondents and

their KAP. Pending approval, modified questionnaires will be given to the LGU

officials and employees in the municipality of Zamboanguita with the assistance

of trusted adults and following safety protocols.

The survey periods and locations were:

1. 2018-2019 Lutoban (village) and Mayabon (Latason) – Interviews were

conducted with 31 respondents. Household respondents were living near the

coastal areas and most of them were fisherfolk, fish vendors, and Bantay

Dagat officials. (Data available from Big Blue Network)

2. 2019-2020 Lutoban (village), Mayabon (Latason), and Basac (Cang-Un-Sang)

– Interviews were conducted with 22 respondents. Household respondents

were living near the coastal areas and most of them were fisherfolk, fish

vendors, and Bantay Dagat officials. (Data available from Big Blue Network)

3. 2020-2021 Secondary and Primary schools in barangay Maluay (Santiago

Delmo Memorial High School and Maluay Central Elementary School) – some

respondents were living along the coastal areas, some were living uphill,

some were living in other barangays. (Data collected by M.C. Parao)

The household interviews assessed households` knowledge about waste,

attitudes towards waste management, their practices in managing their waste

and their willingness to participate in a beach cleanup. The questionnaires that

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 were handed out with school modules and answered by the households inquired

about attitudes and practices towards waste management, and their willingness

to learn more about segregation through training. The questionnaire was pre-

tested, and it was translated into the local dialect prior to its distribution to the

local communities.

V. CONCLUSION AND JUSTIFICATION

This project aims to discover the general attitude towards SWM by households in

four barangays in Zamboanguita. It will examine 3 factors --- age, gender, and household

location --- for statistical correlation with positive attitudes towards SWM.

This information could help guide the Zamboanguita LGU in understanding KAP and

designing SWM awareness campaigns and training programs. Furthermore, the information

gathered through interviews and other published research is expected to provide ideas for

policies and procedures for the draft SWM plan.

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aguilar, A., (2021). Interviewed by Marie Cris Parao for Project Proposal:

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Household Waste Management

in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, Philippines, April 29.

Asequia, S. J., Encarguez, J. R., Felisilda, Ma. J., & Galarpe, V. R. K., (2018).

Sociodemographic of two municipalities towards coastal waters and solid

waste management: The case of Macajalar Bay, Philippines. Thai Society of

Higher Education Institutes on Environment, 11(3) 182-202.

https://doi.org/10.14456/ea.2018.47.

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Barloa, E., Lapie, L., de la Cruz, C., (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on

solid waste management among undergraduate students in a Philippine State

University. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 6(6), 146-154.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304716473.

Fellizar F. M. & Jeremias H. I., (2019). Knowledge, awareness, perceptions, and

practices on solid waste management of households in selected urban

barangays in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines. Journal of Human

Ecology, 8(1) 101-118. https://ovcre.uplb.edu.ph/journals-

uplb/index.php/JHE/article/view/425.

Jamias, S. & Tatlonghari, R., (2010). Village-level knowledge, attitudes and practices

on solid waste management in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines. Journal of

Environmental Science and Management, 13(1), 35-51.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/98946129.

Macawile, J. & Su, G., (2009). Local government officials perceptions and attitudes

towards solid waste management in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines. Journal

of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, 4(1), 63-69.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44003980.

Madrigal, D. & Oracion, E., (2017). Solid waste management awareness, attitude,

and practices in a Philippine Catholic Higher Education. Recoletos

Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 5(2), 44-58.

https://doi.org/10.32871/RMRJ1705.02.04.

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Maharjan, K., Maskey, B., & Singh, M., (2016). Ecological solid waste management

act and factors influencing solid waste management in Barangay Pansol of

Quezon City, Philippines. Journal of International Development and

Cooperation, 22(1 and 2), 37-45.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321781326.

Premakura, D., (2011). Survey of household solid waste generation and public

awareness on waste separation and composting practices in Cebu City.

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies.

Republic of the Philippines, RA 9003. Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of

2000. https://www.lawphil.net/statuses/repacts/ra2001/ra_9003_2001.html.

Rola, A., (2019). Managing Plastic Waste and the Role of Local Governments.

Report prepared for the Emerging Interdisciplinary research (EIDR) program

for the University of the Philippine System. Science Advisory from the

National Academy of Science and technology Philippines (NAST PHL).

https://www.nast.ph/pdf%20files/Publications/ScienceAdvisory/SA19_03.pdf.