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CHAPTER VI

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary

This study examined conditions of Municipality P and perceived compliance of

Company AB with solid waste management laws in Municipality P, South Cotabato. As a

condition that is presumed to affect the residents and environment of Municipality P, the

solid waste management of Company AB is described as a basic component of its

profile. Perceived effects on the residents were determined by comparing their

conditions before and during the operation of Company AB. In the same way, perceived

effects on the environment were examined by comparing the physical and biological

conditions of Municipality P before and during the operation of Company AB. To provide

support to the findings on perceived effects in residents and environments, Company

ABs performance effectiveness in implementing the relevant provisions of the Ecological

Solid Waste Management Law of 2000, particularly the mandated techniques and

prohibited acts. Providing context of the study are the descriptions of the general profile

of Municipality P, features of Company AB and the socio-demographic profiles of

respondents and key informants. It further explored the problems which Company AB

encountered in solid waste management alongside recommended measures which

could serve as empirical basis for future policy actions to enhance the Companys solid

waste management

This study is a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a one-

shot case study, a pre-experimental design. Utilizing a structured questionnaire as the

main data gathering instrument supplemented by secondary sources and observation,

this study involved thirty four (34) respondent residents and five (5) key informants. The

respondents were purposively chosen from among the residents who have lived in

Municipality P.

There are thirty nine (39) subjects of this study, thirty four (34) of which are

randomly selected residents of Municipality P and five (5) selected key informants

including two (2) retired employees and three (3) current employees of Company AB.

In the light of the conceptual-theoretical framework of the study, data were

analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative

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techniques include descriptive statistics and the nonparametric test of difference- Mann-

Whitney test. Thematic approach was utilized in analyzing qualitative data.

Wastes Generated by Company AB

Company AB basically produces and processes pineapples both for local

and international markets. Its wastes, therefore, mainly consist of pineapple peels,

pineapple pulp, asparagus cuttings, empty pesticide containers, sugar bags, plastic

drums, waste water and other hazardous wastes. Whether these wastes have

been properly managed could be inferred from the description of the Companys

solid waste management system alongside the current overall conditions of health,

income, and social relationships among residents, and the current environmental

condition of Municipality P, particularly its physical and biological aspects.

Solid Waste Management System of Company AB

The solid waste management system that the company AB has put in place is

one that could be characterized as consistent with the provisions of the Ecological

Solid Waste Management Law of 2000, based on the data generated from key

informants who are all currently employed in the company. It implements the basic

processes involved in managing solid waste, which include these stages:

formulation of corporate management plan, implementation, monitoring and

evaluation of its solid waste management plan. It provides the necessary financial

and other material requirements. Its solid waste management program takes into

consideration measures and safeguards against pollution, towards preserving the

natural ecosystem.

On the whole, Company AB operation has been found to have adversely

affected the health of the respondents, despite the medical clinics and hospitals

which the company has established, their health condition has worsened. Air

pollution coming from Company AB operation has been among the factors which

respondents have attributed for the deterioration of their health with Company AB

operation, they have been deprived of breathing the fresh air that they used to

have, especially during wet days when air smells foul due to the water waste

treatment pond. One factors may affect too, is the residents lifestyle, the food that

they are choosing to eat every day, and the residents nature of work in the

company.

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Respondents, however, recognized the benefits that Company AB has afforded

them.

Among these is the provision of employment to the local residents right in

the company, which has subsequently increased their income. Improvement in

economic status is very much evident among respondents who were able to

acquire higher positions in the company, such as supervisors, superintendent,

managers, and even directors.

In terms of their social relationships, no significant change has been reported

during the Company AB operation. The traditional harmonious relationship they

have, among themselves as families, neighbors and other people have been

maintained. Whatever change in their social relationship has been viewed

positively, since change is generally looked at as constant. Though the company

planted trees around the dumpsite and yet the residents keep on blaming the

company on why there are erosions. Based on the findings, the number of animals

is already mitigated comparing the past situation of Municipality P.

Production of various agricultural crops for processing, however, requires farm

inputs in terms of chemical insecticides and fertilizers that are regularly sprayed on

crops to ensure high yields. The farm inputs effect is the soil to become unhealthy

and later on becomes eroded.

According to the key informants, the unpleasant smell during rainy season

is because of the waste water treatment and Company AB is accountable for it;

that is why Company AB is doing all things to make any remedies for it. According

to our key informants, the local government unit of Municipality P and Company AB

has collaborated to implement R.A. 9003 in Municipality P; In addition, Company

AB has offered part of its land to LGU in Municipality P in order to have a sanitary

landfill.

The respondents recommended suggestions of the respondents on how to

improve Company ABs solid waste management and how to obtain clean

surroundings. The respondents have different suggestions on how to improve thesolid waste management and especially how to achieve a clean environment.

Further, majority or eighteen (18) of the respondents suggested that in order to

improve Company ABs solid waste management, it must have a strict

implementation of law. for the remaining respondents, fifteen (15) of the

respondents suggested that in order to improve Company ABs solid waste

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management, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department

of Health must have a proper orientation or must educate residents of each

barangay of Municipality P in segregating, recycling, reusing etc. wastes. While

the other four (4) respondents have suggested that people in Municipality P must

have proper self discipline in order to improve Company ABs solid waste

management.

Extent of Compliance with Relevant Provisions of Ecological Solid

Management Law

That the Company has been relatively efficient in implementing its solid waste

management system is apparently supported by the findings on assessment of

extent of compliance with the provisions of R.A. 9003, with an overall rating of

very good. This is seemingly reinforced by the very good ratings that it obtained

for compliance with the Laws requirements on the following techniques:

segregation, collection and transport, recycling and composting of solid wastes. In

a similar way, Company AB has been found to have complied substantially with the

Laws prohibitions against certain acts that are detrimental to the environment.

Unfortunately, however, the power of the measures that were used in

assessing extent of compliance with mandated solid waste management

techniques and the prohibited acts may be said to be weak or lacking in efficiency

since results have not been proven by statistical tests.

Table 18 provides the aggregate mean of Company ABs compliance with

prohibited acts which shows that Company AB has seldom practiced forbidden

acts in Municipality P. The overall compliance with appropriate solid waste

management techniques has been moderately practiced; which means, Company

AB fairly complied with proper solid waste management techniques. Further, the

overall extent of compliance of Company AB with relevant solid waste

management laws is highly practiced.

Furthermore, the respondents actual responses with their life before and

during the operation of the Company AB in Municipality P from their health,

income, social relationships, physical and biological environment of Municipality P

and so with the other factor that pertains to the solid waste management have

significant differences.

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Conclusion

In determining the current conditions of the residents and the environment of

Municipality P as a manifestation of the perceived effects of the operation of Company

AB, particularly its solid waste management Mann-Whitney test yielded significant

results: for health condition and income of the residents, and current conditions of

Municipality P from that before the operation of the company. The residents health

condition and current conditions of Municipality P have deteriorated even as the income

has increased significantly during the operation of Company AB.

The null hypothesis is rejected and the corresponding alternative hypothesis is

accepted that there are significant differences in health condition and income of the

residents, and current conditions of Municipality P. Their social relationships however,

have not changed since the apparent differences have not been proven significant by

statistical test. The null hypothesis is thus accepted. The quantitative assessments of the

current residents health, income and social relationship have been supported by the

qualitative assessment results.

Note, however, that the qualitative assessment of residents health and the

physical and biological environments being characterized by deterioration, indicate that

these are not only attributed to solid waste generated by Company AB but also to waste

water from production process and emissions from agricultural inputs applied in

pineapple plants, particularly pesticides and fertilizers and domesticated wastes..

It is of interest to note that Company AB has complied with the mandate of the

Ecological Solid Waste Management Law of 2000 (R.A. 9003) as evident in the

existence of its own solid waste management program that takes into account the

consideration in techniques and practices that must be implemented, including among

other things proper segregation, collection and transport, recycling and composting. It

likewise observes the restrictions which the Law imposes against acts that jeopardize

the life support systems. This implies that Company ABs operational activities and

practices are in keeping with the requirement of the sustainable development paradigm

that economic processes and production practices and technologies must be founded on

principles that are resource base protectionist at the same time conservational.

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Recommendation

In the light of the findings and limitations of the study the following

recommendations are advanced for future studies, policy action and other forms of

practical utilization particularly by the community.

For Future Research

1.)Studies on solid wastes management must use qualitative research design to

be able to holistically examine the deeper insights of the whole range of solid

waste management techniques and practices of the company.

2.)A similar study may be done to fully determine the elements of liquid waste

and how this has affected the residents on the environment of Municipality P.

Policy Action

1. The LGU must create a municipal council resolution requiring the closure of

the existing Company AB open dumpsite and require a sanitary landfill

instead.

2. The LGU and DENR must require Company AB to conduct an environmental

impact assessment of how its operation and waste management has affected

the people and the environment of host communities. This must be done with

the active participation of the stakeholders using a multi-disciplinary and

multi-method approach.

3. The LGU and NGOs must pursue a program on waste management

education and training for students as they would be our countrys leaders for

tomorrow.

4. The LGUs waste management education program must be carried jointly by

the LGU, NGOs and the school in both urban and rural communities

5. The LGU must strictly enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law

and impose legal sanctions or penalty in those found guilty of violation.

For the Community

1.) Findings of this study can provide further insights among residents in the benefits

of proper solid waste management based on R.A. 9003

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2.) Other groups may be guided by the findings of this study in developing their

respective waste management system consistent with the provisions of R.A.

9003

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