Ms. Marivic J. Nierras and Mr. Rogelio Payumo described how lack of appropriate waste disposal by citizens is an issue in Olongapo. Their Action Plan, built on that formulated at the First 2006 workshop, adds to the promotion of environmental waste disposal.

1. The City

Olongapo is a port city located on the northeast coast of the Subic Bay, 127km from Manila. The city’s population is currently 227,270, and has been increasing over recent decades with in-migration brought in to the city with the job opportunities inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. With the increasing population growth, the present waste generated averages 110 tons per day, and is also expected to increase. The present landfill has limited space for expansion to accommodate the daily volume of waste disposed, and it will be difficult to find another area should the existing facility become full. Thus, the landfill site is faced with the issue of funding for its continued upgrading. 

The Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO) of the City Government is in charge of solid waste management. At present, the garbage collection program of Olongapo City can only serve 85% of its population directly, due to the constraints posed by the rolling topography of areas which make it difficult for garbage trucks to reach them. Pick up points for waste collection were designated for these areas, but some residents still prefer burning to dispose of their waste. About 16% of solid waste is uncollected, also because of the indiscriminate disposal by some residents along river channels and other bodies of water. Heavy siltation and the absence of a sewerage system in the city have also contributed to the water pollution of the rivers. This has a major impact on the coastal marine waters, the ultimate receiving bodies of water for the waste and pollution that are dumped in the river systems.

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2. Action Plan Progress

Environmental waste management is taught in schools under the Action Plan for Olongapo

The Action Plan formulated by Ms. Marivic J. Nierras at the First 2006 Workshop aimed to reduce the amount of non-separated waste being dumped at the Olongapo City landfill. The City Environmental Sanitation and Management Office coordinated a comprehensive plan for government offices and NGOs to improve both the waste management system and citizen awareness. 

The plan increased training, equipment and health benefits to waste collectors, technicians and sanitation inspectors. Seven new garbage collection trucks were purchased and recycling collections introduced. Sound systems on the trucks played catchy jingles to remind citizens to dispose of waste correctly. An information and education campaign raised awareness through leaflet and letter distribution direct to every home, and incorporated schools, churches, organizations, barangay (village) and community assemblies, radio and other media. Seminars are now held on solid waste management, the public is informed on the City Sanitation Law, and dialogue continues among the City Government and barangay officials, academic institutions and the private sector, toward improved policy formulation. Waste segregation and recycling programs have been piloted in communities, public buildings and government facilities, and laws and campaigns to reduce littering and use of plastic shopping bags have been implemented. 

Landfill facilities will be rehabilitated and improved, and the putting up of Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) in 17 barangays will be enforced. And to prevent the polluting of waterways, the plan arranged increased information campaigns to residents, as well as riverside notices, nets and pollution monitoring. Coordination continues between Olongapo City Government and the Subic Water and Sewerage Company. For sustainability, the city’s Environmental Sanitation and Management Office will advocate for incentive schemes from the government to households complying with at-source segregation schemes, and companies which invest in research, development and equipment to maximize recycling. ‘Trash-to-Cash’ projects are also ongoing.

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3. Proposed Action Plan Revision

As the Action Plan formulated at the First 2006 Workshop is being successfully implemented, its revision builds on ongoing actions, as well as introducing new strategies. To add to successes so far, the plan will increase the budget and human resources for its information and education component, as well as the number of publications produced through collaboration between the Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO) and the Public Affairs Office, so that every household is aware of its role in the environmental management of waste. The number of personnel for advocacy of the CR³ (Compost, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and monitoring and supervision components of the plan will be increased by 12 and 8 persons respectively, and two more waste collection vehicles, as well as sound systems for public awareness, will be added.

Olongapo Time Frame for Revised Action Plan: June 2009 - December 2010
(Additional Steps to First 2006 Workshop Action Plan)

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