MECHANISMS FOR TABACO CITY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

Issues on Solid Waste Management are evident in the Philippines. It is then

ostensible that the tasks of solid waste management not only present complex
technical challenges but also pose a wide variety of administrative, economic, and
social problems that must be managed and resolved.

Despite the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 9003, otherwise known as,
"Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000", and the 2014 Plastic-Free
Ordinance of Albay in particular, the production of solid wastes (i.e., especially
plastics) is still relentless owing to lack of awareness and apathy in the grassroots
level. While several environmental movements in the form of lectures and
seminars, among others, have come into motion in support to enacted
environmental policies and regulations, engaging stakeholders, especially among
children and youth, and making the campaign for proper solid waste management
operative remain a challenge. It may then demonstrate that lack of public
awareness and meaningful participation of all stakeholders would fall short in
producing the desired result of satisfactory management of waste.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Local Government of Tabaco has been

chosen by the Make ASEAN Green Again (MAGA) [2017 Young Southeast Asian
Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit Delegates across the ASEAN region] as a
partner local government unit (LGU) and beneficiary of the mobile game
application called, “Gaia Jaya” in support to the efforts of raising awareness on
proper solid waste management. Said mobile game application was founded by
MAGA during the 2017 YSEALI Summit and thereupon received a funding for its
development from the US Department of State.

The MAGA, in consonance with the desire of the Local Government of

Tabaco to effectively promote and operate the campaign for proper solid waste
management, believes that public awareness is one of the keys to waste
management. MAGA considers gamification through mobile game application,
among others, to be a modern way and effective in imparting knowledge and
capturing collective participation for all ages. Such initiatives affecting behavioral
changes aim to augment policies and regulations in order to address the root
cause of issues on waste management.
 On 27 June 2018, Gaia Jaya was launched in Tabaco in which various
stakeholders [including Tabaco City and Barangay Officials, DepEd Officials,
School Heads, Teachers, Students, Youth Leaders, and NGOs] have pledged to
adhere to and support all solid waste management policies, programs, and
projects of the Republic of the Philippines, the Bicol Region, the Province of Albay,
and the City Government of Tabaco. In the same manner, the event launching
signified a solemn commitment in adopting Gaia Jaya as an information education
and communication (IEC) material in raising awareness for proper solid waste
management.

In view of the perception that public awareness may be an essential

component to waste management as well as the forged partnership between the
Local Government of Tabaco and MAGA, it is then deemed necessary to set a
comprehensive framework for solid waste management information, education
and communication in Tabaco and thereby prompted in drafting this ordinance.

Pursuant to the provisions of RA No. 9003 and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) mandating the implementation of public education and
information on solid waste management, the City of Tabaco shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive policy framework for solid waste management
information, education and communications (IEC) in line with its pursuit of
engaging residents of Tabaco to bring about a better understanding of the benefits
of proper solid waste management.

The policy upholds IEC programs for proper solid waste management to be
stable and that such intervention is fundamental in supporting the sustainability
aims of solid waste management leading to enhanced solid waste management
outcomes.
Definition of Terms – The following terms shall be defined as follows:

a) Educational Institutions – refers to all primary, secondary, tertiary,

and vocational learning institutions within the jurisdiction of Tabaco;
b) Gaia Jaya - is the mobile game application developed by MAGA that
aims to raise awareness on proper solid waste management;
c) Gamification – utilization of game like elements;
d) IEC Materials - refer to brochures, mobile application, modules,
pamphlets, posters, sign boards, radio and/or television, social media
and other related means or approach which attempts to change or
reinforce a set of behavior in a target audience regarding a specific
problem in a predefined period of time;
e) Public Awareness - is the acquired knowledge and concerns of
individuals concerning reduce, reuse, and recycle (3Rs), sustainable
production and consumption, and resource efficiency;
f) Public Knowledge – is the acquired experience and basic
understanding of individuals concerning 3Rs, sustainable production
and consumption, and resource efficiency;
g) Public Attitude – is the acquired values, expression of concern and
interests, and motivation of individuals for actions concerning 3Rs,
sustainable production and consumption, and resource efficiency;
h) Public Action – actions taken by individuals in regards to their
behaviours, consumption choices, and lifestyle practices to
accommodate or support 3Rs, sustainable production and
consumption, and resource efficiency;
i) Recycling - refers to the treating of used or waste materials through
a process of making them suitable for beneficial use and for other
purposes, and includes any process by which solid waste materials
are transformed into new products in such a manner that the original
product may lose their identity, and which may be used as raw
materials for the production of other goods or services: Provided, That
the collection, segregation and re-use of previously used packaging
material shall be deemed recycling under RA No. 9003;
j) Re-use - refers to the process of recovering materials intended for the
same or different purpose without the alteration of physical and
chemical characteristics;
k) Solid Waste Management - refers to the discipline associated with
the control of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport,
processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in accord
with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering,
 conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations,
and that is also responsive to public attitudes;

l) Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) - is U.S.

government’s signature program launched on 2013 that aims to
strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast
Asia; and,
m) Youth - refers to the segment of population from ages 10 to 30

Definition of TSWMIECP – The TSWMIECP has an overall objective

contributing to stimulate all stakeholders to participate in all forms of solid waste
management activities. It acknowledges the significance of setting in place waste
education and awareness strategies contributing to the transformation of the status
quo into a sound material-cycle and resource efficient society. The TSWMIECP
supports solid waste management projects, activities, and programs aimed at
providing information and knowledge to individuals to increase their awareness on
environmental issues and how they can take positive actions to address such
issues.
Important strategies of the program include: (1) provision of a diverse range
of ways of increasing education and awareness in all educational institutions; (2)
involve the community members, men, women, youth, and children for effective
management of waste; (3) support innovative solutions for solid waste
management; and, (4) research and generation of baseline data on solid waste
generation.
Objectives of TSWMIECP – TWSMIECP specifically aims to:

(i) Integrate environmental education and waste management in all

educational institutions;

(ii) Introduce materials, methods and procedures that enhance

participation of the communities;

(iii) Create awareness, understanding, and competency among

barangays, communities, and private institutions to minimize, recycle,
and reuse the produced waste, as well as dispose of it correctly
through their normal day-to-day life strategies; and,
 (iv) Ensure coordinated planning and implementation as well as effective
monitoring and evaluation of appropriate and effective programs and
projects for solid waste management awareness at the city and
barangay levels.

Creation of the Tabaco City Solid Waste Management Information,

Education and Communications Committee (TSWMIECC) - The City shall have
a committee that will initiate and oversee planning and formulation of
environmental education and waste management strategies responsive to issues
on solid waste.
a) The TSWMIECC may be composed of:
Mayor or his/her duly designated representative as Chairperson
Members:

City Environment and Natural Resources Officer

Department of Education Division Superintendent

City Population Officer/Population Program Officer

Chairperson, Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on

Environment and Natural Resources

Chairperson, Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education

Chairperson, Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Sports and

Youth Development

City Gender and Development Focal Person

Liga ng mga Barangay President

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President

Representatives of Business and Private Sector

Representative of Youth Sector

Representatives of NGOs operating in the city and directly

implementing projects for solid waste management
 The City Council shall recommend to the Office of the City Mayor
through a resolution three (3) organizations per category as
representatives to the TSWMIECC. The City Mayor shall choose one
organization per category and other organizations she/he deems
proper to be members of the TSWMIECC.

b) The TSWMIECC may meet at least once every quarter or as often as

may be necessary upon the request of the Secretariat.
Functions of the TSWMIECC – The TSWMIECC shall serve as the central
advisory, planning, monitoring and evaluating body for the comprehensive and
integrated implementation of the city solid waste management IEC program and
will have the following responsibilities:
(i) Formulate three-year and annual integrated plan for the city solid
waste management IEC implementation;

(ii) Create an environment for better involvement and participation of

NGOs, private institutions and civil society groups in planning,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the city solid waste
management IEC program;

(iii) Strengthen the capacities of barangays and educational institutions to

ensure effective and operative dissemination of information relative to
environmental education and waste management;

(iv) Coordinate the full implementation of the program ensuring that

strategies are formulated with an aim of, among others, but not limited
to reducing waste produce, increasing and maintaining participation
in recycling and composting schemes, raising and maintaining
awareness of waste issues, and promoting the waste hierarchy –
reduce, reuse, recycle;

(v) Come up with monitoring and evaluation system for the TSWMIECC
projects and activities in the provincial; and
(vi) Perform other functions necessary to attain the purpose of
this ordinance.
 TSWMIECC Secretariat – The CENRO shall be designated as
secretariat to the TSWMIECC. The said officer shall be responsible for
providing technical and administrative support documenting proceedings,
preparing reports, and providing such assistance required by the
TSWMIECC in the performance of their functions including budget
preparation.

The Secretariat shall also perform the following functions:

a) Ensure that the decisions of the TSWMIECC are faithfully carried out
and implemented;

b) Coordinate action on matters that need immediate attention and

action of the TSWMIECC;
c) Prepare initial concepts and other documents to facilitate effective
deliberation and decision-making; and,

Request Chairperson to call special meetings of TSWMIECC.

Integration of Environmental and Waste Management Education

– All educational institutions as defined herein shall ensure that waste
management shall be incorporated in the curriculum of primary, secondary
and college students about the source reduction, recycling composting
programs, and other relevant topics pertaining to proper solid waste
management and other related environmental concerns. Moreover,

(i) Environmental and Waste Management Education in an age-

appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers
starting from kindergarten up to college and shall commence at the
start of the year immediately following the effectivity of this ordinance.
The TSWMIECC will coordinate the formulation of the environmental
and waste management education curriculum which shall be common
to both public and private schools; and,

(ii) The TSWMIECC will coordinate with the Department of Education,

youth organizations, and organizations working for, by and with the
community in organizing and providing environmental and waste
management education classes for out-of-school youths
 Adoption of Gaia Jaya – The City of Tabaco shall adopt Gaia Jaya
as one of its official IEC material and shall be used by Barangays and all
education institutions in raising awareness for proper solid waste
management.
Appropriation and Budget of the City and Barangays - An amount
of 100,000 shall be allocated as an initial budget for the Tabaco City Solid
Waste Management Information, Education and Communication Program
as a line item budget in the Annual Budget of the City Government of Tabaco
City Environment and Natural Resources Office (after this has been created)
shall prepare the budget and disburse funds for this program with
consultation and support of the TSWMIECC. Capability trainings,
workshops, TSWMIECC meetings, among others shall be charged against
this budget. Budget for this program shall increase accordingly as the needs
of the program increase.

All barangays in the city shall ensure that significant portion of their
internal revenue allotment (IRA) shall be utilized for projects and activities
of the Solid Waste Management Information, Education and Communication
Program.

TSWMIECC shall come up with the list of projects and activities with
corresponding monitoring indicators to guide the barangay council of the
barangays.