Assessing the Compliance of a Coastal Municipality to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)

To bring about a significant change in the SWM situation in the Philippines, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) was enacted to provide local government units with frameworks that would help them solve the looming garbage problem in the country. Despite the presence of the decree, managing wastes remains a problem in the country particularly in the CALABARZON. This study was conducted to assess the extent of compliance of a coastal municipality to RA 9003 in terms of institutional mechanism, comprehensive solid waste management, incentives, and financial solid waste management and compare the assessments of 72 public officials, 396 residents, and 126 business establishments regarding the local government units’ compliance. The research utilized a descriptive design and gathered data using the questionnaire complemented with interview and focus group discussion. Frequency, weighted mean, standard deviation, ANOVA and Scheffe’s Test were used in treating the gathered data. Results revealed that Calaca has not fully complied with RA 9003. The solid waste management (SWM) implementation in the component barangays and waste segregation are not strictly monitored. There is weak enforcement of waste segregation, provision of appropriate bins, technical capacity of waste handlers, and utilization of the materials recovery facilities. Waste collection remains the primary issue in the city. The assessments of the officials, residents, and establishments regarding Calaca’s compliance with institutional mechanisms, financial SWM, and incentives significantly differed despite their agreement regarding comprehensive SWM, indicating a low level of awareness among stakeholders and a weak SWM system.