Angelo John R.

Javinez BSCE-3 June 20, 2017

Environmental & Safety Engineering

TOP 10 Environmental Problems in the Philippines.

1. Pollution
Pollution, in context, is the introduction of contaminants into the environment causing adverse
change. It is present through noise, air and water. As we produce more noise, it can interfere
with the behavior of certain animals in the eco-system. Also, on some studies, the effect of
sound waves turns into heat causing a slight change in the temperature of the environment. Air
pollution is what we can often see in urban places. Smoke belching vehicles and gases from
factories are the culprits in contributing to air pollution. On water pollution, incessant throwing
of garbage and inappropriate industrial waste disposal affects our bodies of water, which in
turn cause trouble in marine life.

Possible Solution:

One of the most brilliant solution was teach people how to take care of our
environment.Because in our present time we had been experiencing several changes in our
environment , like heavy rain, super typhoon and other calamities that before we Filipino had
not been experience. There will be no other solution we must be responsible on what we do in
our environment because in the end what we had do in our environment will come back to us.
It seems it may be on positive or negative result.

2. Overpopulation

Overpopulation is an undesirable condition where the number of existing human population

exceeds the carrying capacity of Earth. Overpopulation is caused by number of factors. Reduced
mortality rate, better medical facilities, depletion of precious resources are few of the causes
which results in overpopulation. It is possible for a sparsely populated area to become densely
populated if it is not able to sustain life. Growing advances in technology with each coming year
has affected humanity in many ways. One of these has been the ability to save lives and create
better medical treatment for all. A direct result of this has been increased lifespan and the
growth of the population. In the past fifty or so years, the growth of population has boomed
and has turned into overpopulation. In the history of our species, the birth and death rate have
always been able to balance each and maintain a population growth rate that is sustainable.
Possible Solution:

In a recent report leaked by our source from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) office, the
government has a plan to implement a policy that could be very effective. The process involves
collecting higher tax percentage from families with more than 2 children, while also giving
rewards to families with fewer children. The current income tax system shows that a single or
married employee without dependent pays around 14% monthly Income Tax, or higher
depending on his gross taxable income. On the contrary, employees who have 4 dependents
pays only around 4% Income Tax. This only means that working class people who have no
dependent are helping people with many dependents to feed their family. BIR saw this as unfair
system to people who have no dependent, thus, the new tax and reward system is created. The
new plan will balance the tax system and will also help control the population. Although only
working class people will be highly affected, non-working class people especially those who are
living on makeshifts and slums can also benefit if they are planning for their children’s future.
The BIR is planning to ask at least 15% Income Tax from families who have at least 4 children,
while asking as low as 3% from families with one child. The government will also implement
free education (High School and College) to first born child, and 50% to second born child. The
college education will be carried by State Colleges and Universities across the country. The free
education system is applicable only to legally married couple, and regularly employed single
parents who are paying taxes.The tables below shows the current tax system and the planned
tax system when the new policy is implemented. The government is still finalizing the plan
before bringing it to congress according to our source.

3. Waste Management in the Philippines

Issues of Garbage in the Philippines the more waste in the Philippines causes the
increase in global warming, high temperature and less oxygen because of the air pollution. The
Philippines’ trash increased by 40 percent in 2010 and the ocean found 1,355,236 items of trash
and people, nearly 400,000 volunteers, gather from around the world just to help in the
Philippines. The lists of the garbage in the ocean were plastic bags 679,957, paper bags 253,013
and food wrappers 103,226. Also recovered were 38,394 pieces of clothing and shoes, 55,814
tobacco related items including cigarette butts 34,154, lighters and wrappers, and 11,077
diapers. These can cause poison and toxic in the ocean and you may see these trashes in some
body of water like the Manila Bay. In 2006, garbage increase 76 percent of the garbage was
made of plastic and 51 percent was plastic bags at Manila Bay. In September 27, 2009, Ondoy’s
flood caused millions of water hit around in the Philippines then the Ondoy’s cyclone also left
behind 10 times the usual garbage accumulated in Metro Manila. The trash collected by Ondoy
blocked some sewage in the streets that caused poor water drainage, mud and more water.
People are cleaning 24 hours and are struggling in different location since September 26 and
continuously heavy rain and the trash moves down at the mountain and where the garbage
place is. Improper Waste Management Mismanagement of waste has serious environmental
consequences: ground and surface water contamination, local flooding, air pollution, water
pollution, global warming, exposure to toxins, and spread of disease. Many of the disposal sites
contain infectious material, thus threatening sanitation workers and waste pickers. Improper
disposal of hazardous waste causes adverse effects on human health and environment. The
effects are direct ingestion through drinking, inhalation of contaminants that volatilize from
heated water, absorption through the skin during washing, consumption of goods derived from
plants or animals exposed to polluted water. Waste disposal results in pollution of canal water
and subsequently in death of animals due to cyanide contamination. Below are some methods
of waste disposal that are cannot ensure proper safety means: 1.Landfills and open dumps
Waste management through the use of landfills involves the use of a large area. This place is
dug open and filled with the waste. The area is then covered up with soil. Landfills are not safe
because they give off gases like methane, which are highly hazardous. You should not carry out
waste management through landfills if you cannot ensure proper safety means. Landfills and
open dumps, according to studies, account for 34 percent of human related methane emission
to the atmosphere, a global warming gas that has 23 times more heat trapping power than
carbon dioxide. These landfills and open dumps are illegal under RA 9003. 2. Incineration
Incinerators, on the other hand, have significantly higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions
(per kilowatt) than a coal fired power plant when all of the carbon coming out of an incinerator
stacks is measured. Such emissions are banned by the country’s Clean Air Act. Inaction on
garbage contributes to the death of at least two persons every minute due to complications
from environmental problems, which could be prevented if the country only developed a more
efficient environmental management program. Waste Management Waste management is the
collection, transport, processing or disposal, managing and monitoring of waste materials. The
term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally
undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste
management is a distinct practice from resource recovery which focuses on delaying the rate of
consumption of natural resources. All waste materials, whether they are solid, liquid, gaseous
or radioactive fall within the remit of waste management. Waste management practices can
differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and
industrial producers. Management of nonhazardous waste residential and institutional waste in
metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of local government authorities, while
management for nonhazardous commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibility of
the generator subject to local, national or international authorities.