GETTING THROUGH URBAN WASTE
The Integrated Solid Waste Management Project (ISWMP) and Allotment Garden
Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City
Barangay Lapasan is strategically located in the eastern part of Cagayan de Oro City. It is where most of the business districts are located. Lapasan has two big creeks, first is the Bitan-ag Creek that serves as literal and physical boundary of urban and rural barangays namely: in its western side are the urban barangays 22, 24, 26, 33, 35; and, Barangay Puntod in the northwest. Macalajar Bay, which is known to be the gateway of Mindanao, sits on the northern part. Hence, foreign and local vessels dock and trade in its Macabalan port.
Kolambog Creek, that is located in the east, runs through and opens to the coastline. Unfortunately, it became the hatch for all the discharged domestic household wastes. Usually, the disposed garbage mostly does not come from the barangay itself, but from other barangays along the said stream. The situation caused flooding and submerging some of the low-level areas of Lapasan; not to mention that the wastes flush at the shorelines, and even spread out until the coasts of Barangay Gusa and Bugo.
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| Loading the excess |
With the mandate of R. A. 9003 or the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the barangay council designates potential individuals to run the implementation of a new waste disposal system that will afford satisfying barangay cleanliness. Consequently, a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is constructed at the back of the barangay hall. The community garden, on the other hand, is located in Sto. Niño, which becomes the pilot area for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System Program (ISWMP) of Barangay Lapasan. Thus, it will serve as the receiving venue for the biodegradable waste.
The main goal of the project is in line with the ecological effort of the barangay, which is to have a clean and healthy environment. The focus is to eliminate irresponsible throwing of garbage, and restoring the creeks that become dumping sites.
TURNING THE HEAP: THE OTHER SIDE OF GARBAGE
The Integrated Solid Waste Management Project (ISWMP)
Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City
ISWMP in a Nut Shell
A replication manual on one of the most note-worthy projects facilitated by the Cagayan de Oro City government through the Local Environment Planning and Management Project (LEPM) is a concretization of the Good Practices in Local Governance: Facility for Adaptation and Replication (GO-FAR) goal to provide other local government units the rudiments of successful environmental management techniques. This replication manual on the Gusa solid waste management projects covers the basics of the project in a synthesis.
In summary, one of three model barangays chosen for the LEPM projects, the local government of Gusa is exemplary in the successful implementation of its Integrated Solid Waste Management Program (ISWMP). Fore planned to alleviate the quality of life among its populace through clean environment and the utilization of organic waste generated within the area, the project is a concretization of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
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| The heap is turned |
Gusa, along the East coast of Cagayan de Oro City, is flanked by the river Bigaan and the Macajalar Bay to its East and North respectively; barangay Lapasan lines it to the west and barangay Indahag to the south. Outstanding efforts of the project implementers converge in the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) situated in Sitio Dao, Purok 3 of the barangay. This 1,000 square meter lot is not only destination to the biodegradable refuse of the 19 clusters in four demonstration puroks, namely puroks 6 and 7and later puroks 4 and 5; it also houses a pot and plot garden for organically grown and marketable produce of vegetables and ornamental plants.
Instrumental to these achievements is the unwavering commitment of the project’s primary stakeholders backed by faithful law obeisance. L-EPM trained organizers of the barangay attuned themselves to the immediate needs of their environs. Strategically, they linked the L-EPM project components to an already existent Barangay Self Sufficiency Program for Development (BSSPD) that also includes health and sanitation among its priorities. An educational tour to Marikina, Makati, the Senate, and Linamon also prepared the barangay organizers with workable information on management and governance. Part of their success formula is a strong advocacy by way of information, education, and communication (IEC). An intense information campaign ensued over the initial stage of the project implementation. Educated on the pros of waste segregation, the community was more than eager to do their share of segregating biodegrables from recyclables and residuals. Four-time violators of the RA 9003 were summoned to the barangay council and re-educated the basics of segregating. However, such a violation marks the offender a criminal record in his purok certification. Clearance from the violation is penalized at PhP300.00.
The barangay council initiated preparations for the ISWMP implementations through the Barangay Solid Waste Management Committee. With the community’s participation, the concerted efforts of the Barangay Health and Environmental Brigade, the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) the technical and financial assistance of the L-EPM, the bases were covered. No later than 2001, the implementers set up for their seven-fold methodology:
- identification of a collection schedule and transport system,
- introduction of SWM practices to four pilot puroks,
- selection of suitable location for an MRF
- selection of technically suitable and economically feasible composting method,
- organization of competent personnel to manage and maintain the composting process,
- utilization and distribution of compost, and
- recovery of recyclable and reusable materials.
In 1998, when the ISWM started, the barangay was recipient to the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Certificate of Recognition as initiators of a community-based waste segregation and material recovery and composting activity in line with the implementation of the RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act 0f 2000. This and back to back Pachada Cagayan Awards in 1997 and 2000 by the city government are standing proofs to their achievements in the city’s clean and green environment drive. More than a boost to their morale, these awards blazed the trail for more achievements in the future.
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