Philippine E-Journals

Climate Change Mitigation: The Case of Boracay Island

Celedonia R. Hilario | Benedicta D. Repayo | Librada F. Rebustes | Ailyn Q. Relojero

 

Abstract:

The paper identified the best practices of the local government in Boracay Island, Philippines, in mitigating climate change through its implementation of the solid waste management program, known as the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Prior to the MRF program, people dumped their solid waste everywhere. About 5 truckloads of garbage, with a capacity of 5 cu. m. each, were collected daily and were dumped in an open dumpsite in Mt. Luho. The Village Council of Balabag adopted solid waste segregation as mandated by Republic Act No. 9003 and established the Material Recovery Facility. To ensure success, strategies were employed. A six month-continuous training on information dissemination was conducted. The spirit of volunteerism was conceived, hence the village was divided into “selda” or zone with a volunteer “selda” leader who closely monitored the compliance to the “no segregation, no collection” policy. Violators were penalized. Junk shops were banned in Boracay. Linkages with government agencies and private individuals were strengthened. Garbage collected from different sources increased by 2010, with as much as 30 to 35 trucks per day collecting the garbage in the three villages. The highest percentage of waste dumped was compostable waste, followed by recyclable waste. Strict implementation of segregation at source reduced the volume of garbage collected. The number of sick people recorded had been minimized as compared to 2001. The MRF opened employment for jobless people. It likewise generated income from products like vermicompost, charcoal briquette, bio-fertilizer, pots and garbage bins, necklaces and beads. Despite the hesitation of some people in embracing the program, the Boracay Material Recovery Facility became a showcase of a model solid waste management program. People have come to realize that “there is money in garbage.” The most important effect of the MRF was in mitigating the damaging effects of climate change on the fragile ecology of Boracay Island.