DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD ROMAULDEZ MEDICAL FOUNDATION

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

National Service Training Program 1

Lesson 3. Enhancing Awareness of Social Issues & Problems

A. STATE OF THE PHILIPPINE lod one has been covered with soil and planted with grass
ENVIRONMENT while the other one remains in operation receiving
truckloads of trash every day.
Introduction:
Solid Waste Management
This module discusses the current environment
situation in the Philippines. It describes the environment What are some of the other effort to address the soil
impact brought about by a rapidly increasing Filipino waste problem?
population. As you realize the stressful effects of people’s
 Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste
activities on our environment, we hope that you will also
Management Act 2000. This law declares the Policy of
realize that environment degradation b=has become a
the State to adopt a systematic; comprehensive and
major social concern. Likewise, we hope that such
ecological solid waste management program.
realization will help you to be more aware of our
responsibilities protecting and enhancing the Philippines  To implement RA 9003, a local government unit
environment. And that such new awareness will lead to the (LGU) must meet four major components:
emergence of another Filipino youth who is committed to segregation at source, segregated collection;
take an active stewardship role in “saving the present for establishment of materials recovery facility (MRF)
the future”. and a proper disposal facility.
In this module, you will:  Waste paper, used tires, polystyrene waste and
polyethylene (PET) bottles are being recycled by
1. discuss briefly the major problems and concerns in
Recyclean Foundation, Inc., Tire Imported and
the Philippines environment;
Traders Association of the Philippines, Tire
2. identify the possible causes of these environment Manufacturers of the Philippines and Philippine
problems and concerns; Retreader Polystyrene Packaging Council of the
Philippines and Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippine. Inc.,
3. cite instances which suggest that environmental respectively.
degradation has indeed become a major social
concern; and  Ever Gotesco Corporate Center, Ayala Center
Association, Rockwell Center Association, Inc. and
4. suggest some measures which you could undertake Alabang Commercial Corporation have agreed to
to help protect and enhance the environment in support the management of recyclable materials and
terms of: the information campaign about waste recovery.
a. environment-friendly practices and behavior  Another law that affects the management of solid
and; waste is the Local Government Code of 1991or
b. Collective efforts in the community. Republic Act 7160. This law mandates local
government units to exercise power, functions and
What is the Philippines Scenario? responsibilities in providing basis services and
facilities related to general hygiene, sanitation,
beautification and solid waste collection, transport
Environmental situation in the Philippines has deteriorated and disposal.
especially in urban areas (World Bank, Philippines
Environment Monitor, 2002). Rapid population growth Water Pollution
gave rise other problems such as degradation of natural How do bodies of water get polluted?
resources through massive deforestation and changing
land use.  The quality of river waters has diminished so much so
that almost all the rivers monitored fo Dissolved
Notice that there are many more open dumpsites in the Oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Philippines than controlled disposal facilities and sanitary from 1999 to 2007 failed the criteria for Class C body
landfills. An example of a controlled disposal facility is that of water.
of Payatas. It is composed of two mounds of garbage-the

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 DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD ROMAULDEZ MEDICAL FOUNDATION
COLLEGE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

National Service Training Program 1

Lesson 3. Enhancing Awareness of Social Issues & Problems
 The greatest source of organic material that increases Department of Health to lead the implementation of
BOD is domestic waste (48%). The total BOD this law.
generation in the Philippines is 2, 236, 750 metric ton
Air Pollution
per year.

 The lost common water pollutants in the Philippines How is the Philippine atmosphere affected by human
are oil and human and animal waste which organic in activities?
nature. Phosphates, nitrates, heavy metals, plastics,
 When there is “any alteration of the physical,
persistent organic pollutants (PM) and suspended
chemical and biological properties of the atmosphere
solids are also abundant.
making air harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public
 As of 2003, data show that 58% of groundwater health and environment” air pollution is said to exist
meant for drinking water supplies is contaminated (DENR_EMB, 2003)
with coliform (bacteria from the large intestine) and
 Air pollutants originate from mobile sources like
would need treatment.
automobiles, stationary/point sources like industrial
Water Pollution Management firms and area sources like busy roads, burning
garbage, forest fires, construction work and aircraft
What is being done to address water pollution problems? operations.

 Through various government and nongovernment  Carbon monoxide contributes the greatest amount
agencies as well as other concerned parties, law have (50%) of pollutants into the atmosphere. Sulfur
been enacted and implemented to effectively oxides which come from stationary/point sources like
manage the country’s waste. Two of these laws manufacturing processing and electricity generating
where the DENR is the lead agency mandated to plants, mills and chemical industries account only for
implement them are Republic Act 6969 and Republic 9% of the emissions. Nitrogens oxides (15%) and
act 9275. volatile organic compounds (15%) are basically from
mobile sources.
 Republic Act 6969 known as the Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control of 1990 Effort to Address Air Pollution
mandates the control and management of the
import, manufacture, processing, distribution, use,  Republic Act 8749 or Clean Air Act of 1999 bans
transport, treatment and disposal of toxic. incineration, which was originally being considered
an option by many local governments from solid
 Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act waste disposal.
2004 provides for various approaches to address
problems on water quality. It also envisions  Nationwide total suspended particulate (TSP)
protection, preservation and revival of our bodies of monitoring from 2003 to 2007 shows a significant
water. improvement amounting to 33% (from 144 to
[Link]/Nm3)
 The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems
is installing and plans to install a number of sewage  Local governments have initiated different activities
treatment plants in order to treat waste water before and projects in compliance with the Clean Air Act.
its release into bodies of water. Region 2 placed an interpretative sign along the
national road which read “Dayami ay hag sunugin, i-
 PD 600 (as amended by PD 979) otherwise known as decompose para pataba pagyamanin”.
the Marine Pollution Control Decree of 1976 which
regulates and controls the pollution of seas and
oceans and mandated to the Philippines Coast Guard. Best Practices in Waste Management

 PD 856 (Sanitation Code of 1975) which requires There are various setups where solid waste is properly
cities and municipalities to provide adequate and managed at its source. At canteen, for instance, there are
efficient system for sewage collection, transport and four containers for the following waste:
disposal in their areas of jurisdiction and tasked the

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 DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD ROMAULDEZ MEDICAL FOUNDATION
COLLEGE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

National Service Training Program 1

Lesson 3. Enhancing Awareness of Social Issues & Problems
1) Plastic cups,
2) Plastic spoons and fork,
3) Plastic wrapper,
4) Food leftovers and table napkin.

There are also four kitchen for the following waste:

1. Pig feed
2. Cans
3. Plastic bottles
4. Glass bottles

Your Role in Environment Management

What can you do to help make the environment

sustainable?

You can do a lot help protect the environment and save it

for. These are some of the things you have to seriously
consider:

1. Your awareness of the benefits of proper solid waste

manage your concern for the environment are
crucial.

2. It would be better if you could help promote

cooperation and the community in the management
of solid waste.

3. Try to maximize the use of the materials recovery

facilities (MRF’s) through sharing.

4. Encourage segregation of waste at the source. Try to

do your pacing and recycling solid waste.

5. Use biodegradables rather than non-biodegradables.

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