SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OF

THE MUNICIPALITY OF LUGAIT, MISAMIS ORIENTAL

I. INTRODUCTION
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, otherwise known as Republic Act
9003, is a declared policy by the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological
solid waste management program. This act supports and provides programs, create necessary
institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited and providing
penalties, and appropriating funds that are beneficial in managing Philippines’ solid waste.
Part of the acts provision, in accordance to Section 16, also known as Local Government
Solid Waste Management Plans (SWMP), is to come up with a 10-year solid waste
management plans consistent with the National Solid Waste Management Framework to be
provided by a province, city, or municipality through its local solid waste management
boards. Note that this SWMP focuses on the concept of re-use, recycling, composting of
wastes generated by their respective jurisdiction and through this, the LGU SWMP will
ensure the efficient management of the generated solid waste. The implementation of the
plan will give emphasis on all feasible re-used, recycling, and composting programs. At the
same time, the plan should include the identification of the amount of landfill and account
solid waste which cannot be re-used, recycled, or composted. Overall, the components of the
said plan, according to Section 17 of the same act, are the following: city or municipal
profile, waste characterization, collection and transfer, processing, source reduction,
recycling, composting, solid waste facility capacity and final disposal, education and public
information, special waste, resource requirement and funding, privatization of solid waste
management projects, and incentive programs.
a.) Goal of the Case Study
Though there are existing codes mandated for the cross checking of the
implementation of the solid waste management plan, it is also vital to conduct an
independent case study that will review and analyze recorded project
implementation of the SWMP or any programs in line with it. In line with this,
this case study will review and assess the solid waste management plan
implementation of Lugait Municipality based on the recorded data from their
 Municipal Engineers’ Office and the LGU-Lugait. In this review, we will
organize the data according to the implemented or to be implemented SWMP
components provided by Section 17 of R.A. 9003 which were mentioned above.
However, due to proponents’ limitation in acquiring data and documents, this case
study can only provide partial information of Lugait SWMP implementation and
futuristic actions. (Cite that our information for the above info is
https://emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RA-9003.pdf)
II. Lugait Municipal Profile
The Municipality of Lugait in the Province of Misamis Oriental occupies a land area of 3,
645 hectares more or less or 36.45 square kilometers, according to the Cadastral Survey No. 698,
Public land Subdivision Survey, (PLS) No. 48 and the Parcellary Survey of Betahon. It belongs
under Region 10 which consists of eight existing barangays.

a.) Geographic Features of Lugait

Lugait is located within the geographical coordinate of 8º 19’ 30” latitude and
124º 14’ 45” east longitude. It is bounded on the west northwest by Iligan Bay;
northeast by the Municipality of Manticao; west southwest south by Iligan City.
b.) Climate, Temperature and Rainfall
Climate in the area is classified under type 3 of the Coronas Classification, which
is characterized by the seasons not very pronounced but is relatively dry from
December to May and wet during the rest of the year. The month of May is normally
the warmest with an average mean monthly temperature of 28.0ºC. While January is
the coldest month with an average monthly temperature of 25.6ºC. Mean annual
temperature is 26.8ºC. The average monthly rainfall records do not vary widely.
Monthly rainfall varies between 49.8 mm. Peak precipitation is observed in July
while the lowest precipitation is in March. Mean annual precipitation is 1, 703.2 mm.
c.) Topography
Lugait is situated 83 meters above the sea level and the common topography of
the location is (picture nalang ta – mag search pa ko. Kanang contour sa topographic
area http://en-ph.topographic-map.com/places/Lugait-6696174/)
d.) Geologic Hazard
e.) General Land Use
 The use of land in Lugait is divided into four classifications, the built-up area,
agricultural lands, forest land, and mineral land. The built-up area is characterized by
mixed land use and falls around 5.41% of the total land area. This built-up area is
allocated from existing residential, commercial, institutional open spaces and infra
utilities. For the agricultural lands, the land area occupies 61.74% of the total land area.
Now for the forest land, the municipality projected around 8% of the total land area for
Agro-forestry zone. This includes the land used for the rehabilitation program of the
abandoned quarry of the existing mineral land, the buffer zone of the two conflicted land
uses, and the watershed forestry zone under integrated social Barangay Kaluknayan.
Finally, the mineral land is identified within the mining claim of the HOLCIM Cement
and only 5.4% of the total land area shall be open for quarrying activity.
General Land Use (include the land portion used as controlled dumpsite; include proposed land
use plan – pangitaon pa nako ang proposed land para dumpsite)

III. ACCESSIBILITY (found in CLUP physical infrastructure resources…)

a. Road System and Transportation Networks (include accessibility to Mun. Controlled
Dumpsite)
b. Programmed Road Infrastructure Investments (next five years)

IV. SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

a. Population and Household Number
The total population of Lugait in 2018 per BNS data was 20, 554 persons. An increase of
about 1.6% is observed from 2014 to the current year. There are 4, 573 households in the
municipality. In the 2016 census, 72% of the total population resided in the coastal barangays,
namely: Poblacion being the highly populated coastal barangay, followed by Biga and
Calangahan.
b. Population per Barangay
Among the rural barangays, Aya-aya has the highest population followed by Upper
Talacogon. The rest of the barangays have comparable population distribution. Barangay
Population records from 2011. 2012 and 2013, has shown an increasing population distribution.
It is observed that from 20122 to 2015 all coastal barangays have experienced a great increase
in population while the rural barangays have minimal growth. This observation of migration to
coastal barangays is due to employment of some establishment and industry like HOLCIM
Cement Corporation. (Refer to Table 1)

Table 1. Population and Household by Barangay

BARANGAY POPULATION HOUSEHOLD
Poblacion 8, 926 1938
Biga 3, 437 764
Calangahan 2, 458 523
Lower Talacogon 899 198
Upper Talacogon 1, 328 320
Kaluknayan 839 210
Aya-aya 1, 541 366
Betahon 1, 126 254
Total 20, 554 4, 573
c. Population Density
The coastal areas of Poblacion, Biga and Calangahan have higher population density
compared to rural barangays. Based from the standard density of the National Statistics Office,
that is, 56 persons per square kilometer, all coastal areas can be classified as urban areas. The
presence of HOLCIM Cement Corporation, the National High School, Public Market and
accessibility to the neighboring cities resulted in the concentration of population in coastal
areas compared to the other barangays. The absence of proper access roads and other facilities
makes the upland area less populated.
d. Growth Rate
According to the BNS Census Report, as describe by Table 2, on 2016 to 2017 growth
rate shows that the population has grown at an average rate of 0.91%. The total population of
Lugait per BNS data was 20,554 persons. An increase of about 1.6% is observed from 2014 to
the current year.
Table 2. Historical Population Growth
Censal Year Population Average Growth Rate (%)
1995 13012 1.05
2000 14249 1.69
2005 15793 2.03
2010 18274 3.14
2011 18868 3.25
2012 19605 3.91
2013 20013 2.08
2014 20140 0.63
2015 20464 1.61
2016 20640 0.86
2017 20828 0.91
2018 20554

e. Literacy Rate and Access to Educational Facilities

There are 7 public elementary schools and 2 private elementary schools in the
Municipality of Lugait. Moreover, there is only one National High School which includes
the Junior and Senior High School. The Municipality created the Lugait Technical
Vocational School in the year 2004.

f. Reported Cases of Diseases or Health Problems Related to Water Pollution and Poor
Sanitation
Due to the deficient of data and time, Municipal of Lugait was not able to share
any information about a reported diseases relating on water pollution and poor sanitation.
However, a recent recognition from the Department of Health was given to the
Municipality of Lugait as a program entitled “Gawad Kalusugan” held at SMX
Convention, Pasay last February 2015 that has a goal of awarding the top performing
Local Government Units (Provinces/Cities/Municipalities) in health in responding to the
communities’ health and safety. Through this award, it clearly shows the performance of
LGU Lugait relating to a clean and green municipal were greatly and successfully done.
V. ECONOMIC FEATURES

a. Average Family Income and Expenditure

Family income were derived from various sources of employment, 4.82% of the
total population is self-employed, 3.93% in farming, 4.71% in hired labor, and 0.85% in
fishing. In recent household count, some 1, 620 families representing 38.31% of the total of
families have an average monthly income of 4,000.00 below while 1,332 or 31.5% have an
average monthly income that ranges from P 4,000.00-6,000.00. Some 1,276 families or
30.17% generated an average monthly income of 6, 000.00 above per month, which means
that approximately 64.00% of the total population live below poverty line.

b. Utilities (power, communication, water)

Electricity is distributed through a local franchise of Misamis Oriental Rural Electric
Service Cooperatives (MORESCO I). Currently, all the barangays have available power
services. The 2013 records reveal a total of 1, 471 billed consumers. Over 94% of the total
bills are used for residential purposes and only 6% are for commercial, institutional,
industrial, public buildings, water system and street lighting combined. The Maranao
Telephone Company (MARATEL) is now providing landline telephone connections to
interested establishments and residents. Cell sites are likewise now available on some open
areas using high tech sets. Telecommunication Service Provider are available such as Smart,
Globe and Sun.
c. Water Use and Trends

d. Economic Activities

The operation of a cement manufacturing plant, agriculture and the vibrant

commercial and trading activities are the major economic drivers of the municipality of
Lugait. Revenue generated from these economic activities substantially contributes to its eco-
nomic growth and financial stability. Agriculture is one of the primary economic drivers of
the municipality of Lugait with farming, fishing, livestock raising as its main economic
activities. The vibrant commercial and trading activities in Lugait continuously contribute to
 its economic growth. The public market is the center of commerce and trade where basic
needs of residents are served. HOLCIM PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED, one of the
biggest cement manufacturing plants in the country is situated within the municipality
because of its abundant mineral deposit such as shale pozzolan and limestone which are two
of the main ingredients in cement manufacturing.

e. Employment in Solid Waste Management

According to the Office of the Human Resource Management Officer of the LGU and
Punong Barangay of Poblacion, there are a total of 21 employees doing the works for the
solid waste management program. There are 5 in the LGU and 6 in barangay Poblacion.
They are drivers, garbage collectors and ISWM enforcers. The municipal garbage collection
team is composed of the following personnel: One (1) garbage truck driver, 4 garbage
collectors, and the barangay Poblacion comprised of the following: 1 truck driver and 8
collectors. In the municipality, only the driver who is a permanent employee and the 8
collectors are job-order employees. While in the barangays, only the driver, while not a
permanent employee, but is considered to stay until the end of the term of the punong
barangay who appointed him, and the 8 collectors are rotating every 15 days. Each purok of
barangay Poblacion provide at least one (1) person to be employed for this purpose on
rotation basis. All members of these teams have undergone training on their particular tasks.
Again, there is clear lack of personnel in both the municipal and the barangays to undertake
the program.

f. Projected Economic Growth Rate

g. Poverty Situation

VI. CURRENT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (describe the program)

The Municipality of Lugait already have its solid waste management program as early as
in 1998 long before the establishment of the same in the national government level. The vision
of the solid waste management program of the municipality is “a municipality that manages its
solid wastes”.
VI.1. Institution and Resources
a. Current LGU Organization
 b. Current LGU Services
Sustainable Information and Education Campaigns (IEC) was being organized by the
municipality because of two main reasons: First and foremost, so that the public may know
about the ISWM Program, and secondly, due to its importance in the success of the
implementation of the program at focus. From the very start, the campaign management team
of Mayor Lim has included this concern as one of the priorities of his would-be administration.
Thus, it is one of the programs included in his campaign platform. It was a product of the
suggestions and representations of his political leaders conveyed or shared to him prior to the
campaign period in 1998 elections. After winning the elections, the problem of solid wastes
management has come out as one of the areas that needed to be addressed and thus included in
“Lugait Ipatunhay ug Mahalon Program”, his Executive-Legislative Agenda during the
conference he had with the multi-sectoral forum in Calangahan. The public was once again
engaged when Hon. Bruce A. Colao, SB member, introduced a draft ordinance on it in 1998.
After it was enacted and approved, the technical working group was organized, and they went
to the different puroks of barangay Poblacion and the other 7 barangays of the municipality and
held meetings where the public was oriented about the Integrated Solid Wastes Management
Program of the municipality. They then went to the 7 elementary schools and 1 high school and
oriented them about the program for them to know it and enjoined their support to its
implementation. Government employees particularly those involved in the implementation like
the drivers and collectors or eco aides were oriented about the basic of the program.

Other sectors vital to the success like the motorela and PUJs plying in the municipality
were also oriented on the programs. It was followed with installation of trash bins to encourage
them to positively support it. Part of the IEC was the printing, publication and distribution of
pamphlets which contains information on the program which help in the understanding and
later support of the public. It was designed with graphic presentation and in the vernacular to
gain popular support. Billboards and streamers where established in strategic areas or locations
in the barangays and in the municipality with the same intention of informing the public so that
they will support its successful program. Compact disc format of video presentation was used
during meetings and other activities for the public. Trucks which collect wastes were installed
with sound system. Jingles about the program were played while they go around the
 municipality during collection period. But since there is no institutional point person to sustain
this and a functional board, IEC materials and public assemblies that were done very long time
ago were not sustained. Its present plan will serve as an opportunity for the municipality to
review and attain sustainability of the ISWM Program of the municipality knowing that it is
very effective towards getting the support of the public so that the objectives of the law and
plan will be achieved.

c. LGU Budget for SWM (in the last 5 years and projected budget)
Investment Cost

Breakdown of estimated investment cost by year for 5 years, by private and public
sectors. Investment costs should address each component of the solid waste system, i.e.
collection, transfer stations, MRFs, composting facilities, and disposal facilities. (Table 3)
Starting the year 2014, under collection, there will be an investment for additional
employees and equipment which will cost P4.0M. No investment for transfer stations in the
following year because waste will be directly disposed, including residual and special to the
Municipal Sanitary Landfill. In 2016, there should be a Materials Recovery Facilities (1 MRF
per purok for 51 puroks) throughout the municipality at a cost of P400,000.00. In 2017, there
should be composting facility particularly a machine in the amount of P300,000.00. In 2018, the
municipality will invest for a disposal facility by building or establishing the municipal sanitary
landfill in the amount of P12,418,628.31.

Table 3. Estimated Investment Cost by Year For 5 Years (2014-2019)

SOLID WASTES INVESTMENTS COSTS YEARS
SYSTEM
Collection Additional employees & P4.0M 2014
equipment
Transfer Stations -none- 0 2015
Materials Recovery 1 MRF per purok (51 puroks) P400,000.00 2016
Facilities
Composting Facilities machinery P300,000.00 2017
Disposal Facility Sanitary landfill P12,418,628.31 2018

VI.2. Waste Generation

a. Disposed Waste
 With a sample size of 30 households, waste generated was conducted on March 11-13,
2013, in accordance to the guidelines stated by Waste Analysis and Characterization Survey
(W.A.C.S.). Data obtained from the conduct of the W.A.C.S. will be used in planning the
ecological solid waste management of the municipality as required under RA 9003.
Orientations on the participants and cooperators were held separately on February 19, 2013 and
March 7, 2013. Residential sources were classified as low income, middle income and high
income. There were also non-households such as those from offices, markets, and schools.
Result of this revealed information on waste generated from individuals from
residential/household and those from non-household. Data on the total daily waste generated
per day per source was also obtained. The data obtained was a basis for coming up with a 10-
year projection of the volume of waste generated per day. Table 3 shows the summary of the
quantity and composition of disposed waste per sector (low income residential, middle income
residential, high income residential) and per solid waste type (biodegradables, recyclables,
residuals, special wastes). As shown in the table, low income residents generated more volume
of wastes compared to middle and high income (which is 59.94% in total wastes generated).
This comprises of biodegradables (60% out of the total), recyclables also 60% and residuals
(60%). Residents with middle and high income generated almost the same in terms of
biodegradables, recyclables and residuals, in which all of the 3 types comprising 20% each out
of the total. Low income and middle income have no generation of special waste. However, the
high income residents generated 100% of the special wastes.

Table 3. Quantity of Waste Disposed per Sector in kg. /day

TYPES OF SOLID WASTE TOTAL Percentage

BIO (%) RECY- (%) RESI- (%) SPECIAL (%) (%)
SECTORS
CLABLES DUALS
Low Income 10.17 60 2.07 60 9.90 60 0 0 22.14 59.94
residential
Middle Income 3.39 20 0.69 20 3.30 20 0 0 7.38 19.98
residential
High Income 3.39 20 0.69 20 3.30 20 0.0363 100 7.4163 20.08
residential
TOTAL 16.95 100 3.45 100 16.5 100 0.0363 100 36.9363 100

b. Diverted Waste
 Diversion of waste includes the recycled and composted waste and is being estimated
through the existing information, and from results of collection and processing facilities. No data
was obtained on the diversion of waste based from the conduct of the W.A.C.S. All sample waste
collected were brought to the Luga-hait Freedom Park where they were segregated, weighted and
recorded. After this, all waste was disposed immediately to the Municipal Ecological Center for
disposal. But under this plan, we will do diversion of solid wastes.

c. Generated Waste
The generated waste is the total of disposed waste and the diverted waste. The
biodegradable wastes weighted 16.95 kilos which is 45.89% of the total waste generated during
the collection period, recyclables weighted 3.45 kilos (9.23%), special wastes weighted 0.0363
kilos (0.01%) and residuals weighted 16.50 kilos (44.1%). Biodegradables have the highest
volume of waste generated followed by the residuals, and then recyclables and the special waste,
which had the lowest volume. A total of 36.9363 kilos of waste was collected. To compute the
volume of the waste generated per individual per day, 37.38 kilos of waste generated is divided
by 30 household and further divided by the average household member, which is 5, then the
computed result is 0.249 or 0.250 kilogram per day per individual. The data about Holcim
Philippines Manufacturing Corp., Inc. is not presented because it is not included in the municipal
solid waste management program. They manage their solid waste pursuant also to their
compliance to the Mining Law.

Table 4. Waste Generated From 30 Households With 4-6 Members/Household

KINDS OF SOLID WASTES VOLUMES IN KILOGRAMS PERCENTAGES (%)
Biodegradables 16.95 45.89
Recyclables 3.45 9.34
Special Wastes 0.0363 0.098
Residuals 16.5 44.67
Total 36.9363 100.00
Source: Waste Analysis and Characterization Survey (W.A.C.S.), March 11-13, 2013.

Table 5 shows the projected volumes of wastes that will be generated based on the 0.25
kilograms per individual per day generated wastes multiplied for 365 days for a year and the
2.08% growth rate in the population. This is from the year 2014 up to the year 2024. In the year
2014, if the population will be 20,140, the projected waste will be 1,837,775.00 kilograms, if the
waste generated is 0.25 kilo gram per person per day. In the year 2015, the population will
become 20,542 and the waste generated is 1,874,457.50 kilograms. In the year 2017, when the
population is 21,372, the waste generated is 1,950,195 kilograms. For the year 2018, if the
population will be 21,893 the waste will be 1,997,736.25 kilograms. There will be 2.029,035.00
kilograms of waste in the year 2019 with the population of 22,236. It will further increase, if the
population will be 23,134 in the year 2021, the waste will become 2,110.977.50. In the year
2022, the population will be 23,597, the waste will be 2,153,226.25 kilograms. In 2023, the
population will be 24,069 and the waste generated will be 2,196,296.25 kilograms.

Table 5. 10-Year Wastes Generation Projection based on population (2014-2024)

YEARS POPULATION PROJECTED VOLUMES
OF WASTES GENERATED
PER YEAR (kgs.)
2014 20,140 1,837,775.00
2015 20,542 1,874,457.50
2016 20,953 1,911,961.25
2017 21,372 1,950,195.00
2018 21,893 1,997,736.25
2019 22,236 2,029,035.00
2020 22,680 2,069,550.00
2021 23,134 2,110,977.50
2022 23,597 2,153,226.25
2023 24,069 2,196,296.25
Source: Waste Analysis and Characterization Survey (WACS), March 11-13, 2013.

VI.3. Solid Waste Management Practices

a. Source Reduction
Existing ordinance provides for source reduction. Only recyclables and non-
biodegradables which can be received and brought to the closed dump site where the Materials
Recovery Facility is located shall be processed. It is even penalized to include those if caught
being loaded to the solid waste’s collector truck. While biodegradables are encouraged to be left
at the source for composting. For those who cannot comply with this, the said waste can still be
received by the collecting truck, but it is composted at the closed dump site and processed for
organic fertilizer. The municipality has constructed the vermin bed which produced organic
fertilizer out of those biodegradables. The organic fertilizer produced from this is being marketed
to the farmers and residents. Reduction of solid waste at source is not yet fully implemented by
the municipality, however, waste segregation is now being strictly enforced. By this method,
biodegradable and non-biodegradable are collected separately. Those who do not segregate their
solid waste are not included in the collection process. Solid Wastes Enforcers accompany the
collection and issues citation tickets to violators. There are itinerant buyers of recyclable
materials such as bottles, scrap iron, plastic containers that could also help in the reduction of
waste. This aspect under the present plan will be augmented or strengthened with more
engagement from more possible partners in the industry and more written agreements shall be
formally made. There are other ordinances enacted by the Sanggunian, like the mandatory use of
organic containers such as banana leaves, paper bags and providing for incentives especially for
those stores or commercial establishment(s) which discourages plastics. But again, this is not
implemented as there are still many who believed that use of plastics is more convenient for all
intents and purposes.

b. Collection
Solid wastes are collected by the municipality in the following schedules: On Mondays,
biodegradables are to be collected; Tuesdays are non-biodegradables; Wednesdays are
biodegradables; Thursdays, during the morning are biodegradables and, in the afternoon, the
nonbiodegradables. No collection every Friday except when it is necessary to collect such when
unable to collect during the schedules herein stated. The solid waste enforcers are escorting the
collection so that it can apprehend violators. They have two (2) dump trucks used for this with
a total of eight (8) personnel in their collection team. There are also municipal employees
assigned to the collection of solid waste in barangay Calangahan and Biga. Barangay Poblacion
collect their own solid wastes. Barangay Lower Talacogon, Kaluknayan, Upper Talacogon,
Aya-aya and Betahon are not covered in the collection. These barangays do collect or not
collect their waste as they are not part of the collection system of either the municipality or
barangay Poblacion. Holcim Philippines Manufacturing Corporation, Inc. collect also the solid
waste within the plant as they were authorized to do so under the Mining Law and is also not
part of the collection system of either the municipality or barangay Poblacion like the five (5)
barangays of the municipality which are excluded in the said system.
 The kind of solid waste thrown during the collection schedule would be the kind of
solid waste collected. The frequency of collection is weekly. Each type of solid wastes, namely,
biodegradables and non-biodegradables are collected at least twice in each week. Those
barangays which do not receive collection service either collect it for themselves or none at all.
Collection service is done by government and not private. There is a problem in this aspect. At
the outset, it was simply because of the lack of equipment (garbage trucks), lack of personnel
(collectors) and the problem of access in the closed dump site especially when it is rainy, where
solid wastes are not collected because it is not passable. In addition, due to the wear and tear,
most of the trucks of the municipality and barangay Poblacion, have become unserviceable
which have become another reason that solid wastes are not collected and thrown on time.
Before 2014, the problem of collection is related also to absence if not lack of equipment and
personnel to undertake it which was also mainly due to non-implementation of RA 9003
throughout the barangays. Meanwhile, it is already being implemented by both the barangays
and municipality.

c. Transfer
Only dump trucks are being used by the municipality and barangay Poblacion in
transferring solid wastes from the various sources (residential, commercial or institutional) to
the dump site. Each of these trucks has three (3) cubic meter capacity for mini dump trucks and
four (4) cubic meter for the boom truck which can haul solid wastes in barangay Poblacion.
They can all accept both biodegradables and non-biodegradable. The Lugait Controlled
Dumpsite Facility is approximately 1.3 Hectares of agricultural land purchased by the
municipality. It started in 2000 as open dumpsite and after 5 years of operation, it was
converted into controlled dump facility in 2006. Thereafter the municipality operates the
controlled disposal facility by adopting measures like soil cover of at least 5 to 6 inches in
thickness and was applied every day after the last garbage vehicle dumped the freshly solid
waste collected to prevent the proliferation of vermin and vectors. However, prior to the soil
cover, the management introduces enzymes, a micro-aid activator that enhances decomposition
and regulated the production of leachate and control odor. At present, only an estimated 4.000
sq. meters was utilized as working area for controlled dumping out of 1.3 has. allocated. In
2010, the municipality finally closed this facility and converted it into Ecological Wastes
 Center. The problem is that even when it was technically and officially “closed”, it continues to
receive solid wastes. For qualified solid wastes which are non-biodegradables were to be
transferred to the Municipal Ecological Waste Center and to be brought to Holcim Philippines
Manufacturing Corp.Inc. with the use of 10-wheeler dump trucks owned by the former
Municipal Mayor Wellie G. Lim, without costs. They are brought to the plant for co-processing
an became Alternative Fuel Resource in the manufacturing of cement.

Figure 1. Qualified solid wastes of Lugait being transported from the MRF to Holcim for co-
processing to produce quality cement. This present mode of disposal of the municipality after its
controlled dump site was closed.

d. Processing Facilities
There is only one (1) Materials Recovery Facility which is established inside the
Municipal Ecological Waste Center at Upper Talacogon. With financial assistance of
P20,000.00, it is mandated that all barangays should have at least one (1) Material Recovery
Facility. In 2014, all the barangays were provided with funds so that each barangay should have
already at least one (1) MRF, although, it is not enough to achieve the sole purpose. At present,
there are at least three (3) barangays out of the eight (8) in Lugait who have MRF. (Refer to
Figure 2)
Figure 2. Barangay Materials Recovery Facility.

They already establish a composting facility in the MRF that is situated inside the closed
dump site. It is already producing vermi cast and the organic fertilizer produced from it. It is
being marketed within the municipality became popular among the farmers of the municipality
for its quality. In fact, there is one stall at the Lugait Market Enterprise dedicated to market or
sell farm produced using organic fertilizer. However, the ideal wastes reduction by
implementing segregation and composting of household and garden wastes to make domestic
organic fertilizer is not yet fully appreciated by the residents. (Refer to Figure 3)

Figure 3. Materials Recovery and Vermi Culture bed at the Municipal

Ecological Center.

e. Recycling
 According to their reported current solid waste management condition, activities such as;
collection, segregation, recycling of biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and re-usable
wastes are usually done in each established barangay Material Recovery Facilities (MRF).
This barangay MRF is designed to have facilities for receiving, sorting, processing and store
composting and recycling waste materials. However, other facilities were able to sustain such
as composting and segregating but other facility were not able to function and needs to be
tackled further that is the recycling facility. As a solution for the recyclable waste, municipal
ecological solid waste of Lugait come up with the idea of selling this waste to the
neighbouring city.

f. Market for Recyclables

Recyclables brought to the Municipal Ecological Solid Waste are not disposed by
having it sold to junk shops or recyclable shops. The municipality does not have government-
junk shop buying or selling arrangements at least the formal way. Most recyclables generated
from source are being sold to at least three (3) junkshops in the municipality on their own
arrangement. There is a big recycling stores located in Iligan City which could be engaged in
the future for the purpose.

g. Final Disposal
There are still wastes not disposed of, namely: the non-recyclable wastes and the special
wastes which include the health care wastes and the toxic and hazardous wastes. As of this
time, this is again buried at the Municipal Ecological Center at Upper Talacogon which is a
clear violation of the controlled dump site existence as embodied or mandated by RA 9003.
When this plan was formulated, it was a realization, that despite the present arrangement with
Holcim Philippines, there are still wastes that have to be managed. And so, it led to the need to
establish a Sanitary Land fill to serve a certain purpose, but not accepted for years due to its
prohibitive cost. The Municipal Ecological Waste Center at Upper Talacogon received all the
non-biodegradables, biodegradables, and residual wastes. Biodegradables were fed to the
vermi. A portion of the Municipal Ecological Processing Center, the former controlled dump
site, was dedicated to the vermi cast production or the organic fertilizer. While it is producing
already, but it is not yet economically generating income for the municipality. The MRF inside
 it continue to host the one which came from the barangays. Until the time of this drafting,
sanitary landfill must be established being the final disposal destination of the solid waste of
the municipality.

h. Health Care Wastes

A concrete septic tank was established several years ago at the back of the Lugait
Maternity and Family Care Center (Health Center). Health care wastes from the said center are
being thrown thereat. However, the same wastes generated in each of the other seven (7)
barangay health centers are not brought there as final disposal for health care wastes of the
municipality. It is not even thrown to a similar facility found in the barangay health centers or
even in the barangays as there is none existing. Aside from these, the health center located
inside the Holcim Philippines Manufacturing Corp. Inc. are throwing their wastes in the septic
tank located inside the plant. There is no treatment practice for these infectious waste as they
are simply immediately thrown at the said septic tank.

i. Toxic and Hazardous Waste

The municipality don’t manage toxic and hazardous waste generated from both the
households and non-households in the municipality. This kind of waste while present in the
municipality but inside Holcim Philippines Manufacturing Corporation, Inc. is being manage
outside the solid waste management system of the municipality. However, the municipality
believed that there is a need to manage this kind of waste. There should be an establishment of
divisions inside the sanitary landfill to be able to accommodate this kind of waste. The
municipality will likewise include activity such as returning it to a third-party person that can
process this kind of waste for disposal. But just the same, they will hold study on this
considering that it is most likely prohibitive in terms of cost.

VII. FUTURE PLANS ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

At present, the open dump site/controlled dump site in Upper Talacogon is closed in
accordance to the requirements mandated under the plan. The municipality do so in accordance
with Department Administrative Order No. 09 dated September 14, 2006 of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources which is the guidelines to be followed in the closure and
rehabilitation of open and dump site. They also have a pre-closure assessment. The activities
covered by the pre-closure assessment were: review of available records, files and information
regarding the dump, evaluation of potential or existing impacts on the ecological and human
conditions, and determination of potential contaminants (if any) which could get into the local
environment and the formulation of appropriate mitigating and remedial measures.

In the establishment of the sanitary landfill, they will likewise comply with Department
Administrative Order No. 10 (Guidelines on the Categorized Final Disposal Facility/Sanitary
Landfill) dated September 14, 2006. They municipality belong to Category No. 01 which is the
facility which could accommodate 15 tons per day of residual wastes to be thrown thereat.
There will be daily and intermediate soil cover, there is cell separation, drainage facility, there
is gas venting, leachate collection, leachate treatment, leachate recirculation at a later stage and
clay liner. The municipality plans to comply with the facility development and operating
requirements. The municipality will also comply with the permitting requirements which
include the submission of the Initial Environmental Examination and the Environmental
Compliance Certificate. As well as to comply with disaster resilient plan as we will interphase
it with the disaster compliant requirements as well and thus operate the program
implementation herewith as green sanitary landfill operations.

VIII. SUCCESS STORY ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE