ENHANCING THE VALUE OF CLEANLINESS

FOR THE CHILDREN OF ILOILO CITY

A Policy Paper

Submitted to:

PROF. RUBEN M. GAMALA

Submitted by:

VICENTE ALBERT AARON S. ANDAYA

STEVEN JAY P. ABIAN
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Waste management and littering has always been a problem of Iloilo City. One does not
need to look too far in order to notice the amount of garbage in the downtown district,
plazas, ports and terminals, among others. The presence of garbage is not only unsightly
but also brings different risks to people. As such, a problem needs to be prioritized by the
city. As it aims to do so, it should also eliminate the bad habits of people who have limited
awareness on proper waste management. The culture of being responsible for the
cleanliness of Iloilo City should be instilled upon its residents and the best way to do this is
to start with the children and their families.

This paper aims to provide recommendations to the Iloilo City Government on what
policies to pass or act on in order to ensure the cleanliness of the LGU now and in the
future generations. Although some of these recommendations encompass the public, it
gives special attention to children, especially school-agers.

The recommended policies apply to the scenario before, during and after children go to
school. It also aims to capture parental and community behavior. These policies are also
supported with incentives and reward mechanisms in order to ensure a positive feedback.

II. INTRODUCTION

The school is a center that equips the children with the necessary knowledge, skills and
attitude in order to become well-rounded and productive adults in the future. Part of this is
teaching the youth the important habits of preserving and maintaining a clean environment
both inside and outside of the school. The best way to introduce such value to an
individual is during their formative years of development.

In addition, problems on waste management have been very rampant throughout Iloilo
City. Despite efforts to improve waste collection and disposal, it is evident that people still
litter and dispose their garbage in public areas. In turn, these collective small incidences of
improper waste practices collectively contribute to the degradation of the environment as it
creates hazards for the public while making certain areas very unsightly.

Environmental education is a lifelong process with the objective of imparting to its target
groups in the formal and non-formal education sectors environmental awareness,
ecological knowledge, attitudes, values, commitments for actions, and ethical responsibility
for the use or resources and for sound and sustainable development.

Environmental education emphasizes the teaching of holistic nature of the environment

through interdisciplinary and problem-solving approaches. This has to start in education as
early as possible. The primary school is the natural place to introduce children to
environmental education, since at this level they instinctively have a holistic view of the
environment (UNESCO, 2000): they have not yet been trained to compartmentalize their
learning into separate subjects, as they will have to do in secondary and higher education.
Introducing critical thinking and problem-solving approaches in Environmental Education,
especially at primary school level, is fundamental if students are to become skillful in the

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identification and solution of environmental problems as students and later on as adult
citizens and possibly decision makers.

Under Section 16 (General Welfare Clause) of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code, every Local Government Unit (LGU) should promote health and safety,
enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, and preserve the comfort and
convenience of their inhabitants among others. Further, Section 99 of the LGC also states
the function of the Local School Board to serve as an advisory committee to the
Sanggunian concerned on educational matters.

Furthermore, late Secretary of DILG and former Mayor of Naga City Jesse M. Robredo in
his paper, Reinventing Local School Boards in the Philippines, underlined the following
problems facing public schools:

 Weak mechanisms for meaningful parent participation in the education of their

children
 Weak involvement and participation of other community-based stakeholders in the
delivery of public education services
 An underperforming LSB that has been reduced to a mere budgeting entity for local
education funds

In his conclusion, the late Jesse M. Robredo stated that there are enough legal provisions
that actually support greater local involvement in public education.

Corollary to these and considering the aforementioned, inculcating the values of cleanliness
and habits that support it best starts during childhood thus this policy paper.

III. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

Litter affects people’s feelings of well -being and safety. People who live along littered
streets feels abandoned. Litter also ruins people’s enjoyment and makes open spaces feel
like waste grounds. It has also been noticeable that littered areas are usually population
concentrated zones with schools and residential areas within or adjacent to them.

Keeping our Iloilo City clean is the responsibility of every individual. People must be
aware of their behaviors and how it affect the environment. People also must develop a
sense of caring and ownership for the surroundings in which they live in.

There is a need to teach this to our children, too. Even children, who often feel that what
they do has little or no affect, can have a positive influence on the environment by helping
to reduce the amount of litter and pollution.

Iloilo City has a population of 448 thousand as of 2015 with a growth rate of 1.02%
annually (PSA, 2015). This means that children from ages 3-18, which is the typical age
among school attedees, is approximately more than 55, 000 or at least 12.27% of the city
population.

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One does not need to look too much to determine that the practice of littering in public has
been part of the habit of people. From simple cigarette butts, candy wrappers, receipts and,
worse, plastic items, many of the people would throw these items in the streets and public
areas with no regard. Such acts could be prevented if these individuals were educated at an
early age that littering and dwelling in trash-filled places should never be acceptable. Once
the culture of littering becomes normal, it worsens when large groups practice it, which is
why we have clusters of small public dumpsites on the sidewalks especially within and
around the downtown area and at every plaza. As a result, flooding is very common among
these places. Despite attempts to clear and expand flood and water drainage systems, it
would only be a matter of time until waste accumulates once again and becomes difficult to
manage.

In Japan, there is a long tradition of students cleaning their own schools. There, school is
not just for learning from a book. Instead, learning how to become a member of
society and taking responsibility for oneself. To make cleaning easier, Japanese students
put on slippers before entering the classroom to prevent dirt from being dragged into the
room. Keeping the school spick-and-span is just part of the daily routine for students.
Each day before P.E., students prep the school by rendering 10 minutes of "clean-up" duty
in their assigned areas. Such practice trains Japanese students to be acclimated to the habit
of keeping their surroundings clean. As such, they will bring such habits once they leave
school. While some parents might balk at the idea of a school taking time away from class
to make students push a broom, both educators and parents show overwhelming support.
As a result, Japan has the cleanest public areas in the world.

IV. POLICY OPTIONS

In order to integrate the practice of “Cleaning-Up” as part of the education of children,
there is also a need to review the current Iloilo City policies relative to solid waste
management such as but not limited to the following:

1. Regulation Ordinance No. 2004-149

Environment Code of Iloilo City

2. Regulation Ordinance No 2012-027

An Ordinance prescribing the proper handling in the collection of solid, liquid and
toxic wastes in all medical and other health care generators/ establishments in Iloilo
City

3. Regulation Ordinance No. 2013-0336

An Ordinance on the proper waste disposal of lamp wastes containing mercury

4. Regulation Ordinance No. 2015-305

- An Ordinance amending sections 31 (A) and 33 of Regulation Ordinance No. 2004-
149 of the Environment Code of Iloilo City

Although these ordinances are already being enforced, it is evident that it has not totally
solved the city’s issue on improper waste management and littering. As Section 16 of the
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Local Government Code suggests, there is a need for LGUs to have holistic approach in
implementing its responsibility of protecting the environment and maintaining cleanliness.
Iloilo City also needs to be proactive in its stance on tackling the issue.

Information dissemination in the barangays and in public places may gather attention but
such practice only works for a while and needs to be sustained. Retention of the practice of
properly disposing waste should be retained in the minds of its citizens. Because of this,
the best approach would be to teach children how to properly dispose waste and instill in
them the habit of ensuring that their surroundings are clean. Relative to these, the
following policy options may be considered by Iloilo City:

1. Requiring all schools to give students an equal responsibility in maintaining

cleanliness in school grounds, classrooms and corridors at all times.

Student, should as early as possible, be provided with an opportunity to clean and

maintain cleanliness in all areas. Instilling this habit is very crucial if Iloilo City
aims to raise productive citizens who demonstrate accountability for their
environment. With this, parents should also be oriented to encourage their children
to do the same in their households.

Part of this recommendation is to allow students to clean school areas before class
starts, during break periods and before going home. This rule shall encompass
kindergarten children up to senior high schools. Also, schools should also be given
the opportunity to strategize on how they will make this activity enjoyable for
students.

The school should schedule a regular time each day for cleaning. Consistently
observing clean up time makes it easier for children to transition from playing to
cleaning, because children will come to anticipate the appropriate expectations of
their abilities. They will learn that, they are expected to participate in helping jobs
and that the jobs required to them are reasonable, and it feels good to contribute to
the cleanliness of the surrounding. By doing this, it teaches them sense of
responsibility for the community.

This responsibility of teaching children to clean should also be tought to parents.

Involving children to positive family work is important for creating a trusting and
healthy family , both now and in the future. When you offer the child opportunity to
engage in real work, it fulfills their desire to be industrious and relevant. It also
shows children that you believe in their potential and that they play a very
important role in the family, and later to the community.

2. Making waste receptacles available in all establishments and public grounds.

Most people resort to littering in the public because there is nowhere to put their
garbage. As an approach, a waste receptacle should be available at all
establishments. For malls or other large establishments, a receptacle must be placed
at certain distances from each other at places that are clearly visible. Such

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 receptacles must also be designed to segregate waste materials. As such, there
should also be responsible personnel that shall be in-charge of emptying the bin/s.
Overflowing of the bin should also be met with penalties as, not only will it be
unsightly but it could also worsen littering.

The LGU can also provide a curbside recycling containers in which individuals or
families may deposit such materials as newspapers; glass bottles and jars ;tin and
aluminum containers; plastic bottles and bags;mixed waste papers (cardboards,
phone books, magazines, junk mails, office papers, etc.). The community arranges
for curbside pick up and delivery to a recycling facility.

Drop off recycling zones can also be put up. Group of large recycling bins can be
installed on public property in one or more locations throughout a community.
Another is recycling centers. The LGU provides the center itself and encourages
residents to drop off or sell refuse materials there.

Recycling works, and does so in several ways. It reduces the monetary and
environmental cost of landfilling and incineration. It substitutes used materials for
virgin materials , thereby reducing the demand for natural resources. It conserves
energy. It helps in maintaining cleanliness in the surrounding. And it creates jobs in
the community.

3. Tax exemptions/ incentives on waste recycling and management facilities in Iloilo

City.

There is not enough waste management and recycling facilities in Iloilo City. Junk
Shops, on the other hand, are also struggling to thrive as the modernization of the
city continues. What the city needs is a large facility that will properly manage its
waste and recycle reusable items. One such way to make the city inviting for
prospects that are capable of establishing such facilities is for the city to make such
as an industry inviting. Iloilo City can give certain incentives or even exemptions
to taxes, fees and charges, since such facility will contribute to the improvement of
Iloilo City.

Schools may also be encouraged to conduct trips to these facilities in order to

further raise their awareness of the need to recycle along with its impact on the
environment. Doing so would increase their appreciation of cleanliness practices
and it will be a fun and interactive process for learning.

4. Providing citizens opportunities to sell recycled garbage and biodegradable waste

to recycling and waste management facilities.

Most of the wastes of Iloilo City are taken to Sanitary Landfills and Material
Recovery Facilities. A common problem in these establishments is the presence of
unsegregated waste that is taken to them. As such, residents need to be motivated
in recycling and segregating on their own. Aside from imposing penalties, the
Iloilo City can also make segregation and waste management rewarding. The City

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 Government could encourage a mechanism that will provide citizens an opportunity
to turn their garbage into cash in the most convenient way possible.

Biodegradable wastes like left over foods, fruit peels, leaves, among others can be
turned into fuels through anaerobic digestion, a natural process during which
microbes break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic –
digestion facilities are expensive to build, but they can be profitable if there is a
steady supply of food waste. The LGU can conisder this knowing that the number
of fast food chains, restaurants and food houses are growing here in the City.

5. Adding heavier penalties to littering and improper waste disposal

Putting a price on trash. One way to get people to produce less garbage is to charge
them for it. So-called pay-as-you pay programs in which LGUs bill residents for
their garbage. City Ordinances already impose penalty fees to offenders for littering
or improper waste management but it does not obligate these offenders to render
community service. Providing a mandatory community service for offenders will
not only teach them not to commit the same offense again but will also provide a
visible example to others that anti-littering policies should be taken seriously.
Along with the mandatory community service, offenders should also attend a
seminar on the importance and practices of waste management.

6. Ordinances for less use of plastic packaging

The LGU can create an ordinance limiting the use of plastic in markets and malls.
People will opt to using of paper bags or other recyclable bags. By implementing
this, plastics can be reduced. Thus, this will be a big help in reducing pollution.
Packaging is one of the major sources of waste paper and plastics. Packaging
should be minimal. Its production should be environmentally clean and it should be
made up of materials that can be reused or recycled repeatedly. Buyers should also
be educated to support the use of environmentally friendly packaging by purchasing
products with minimal packaging or with packaging made of recycled or recyclable
materials

V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Policies are tools that local government units could use on taking the direction towards
development. However, waste management is a complex issue that involves multiple
dimensions in order to be truly effective. For this, a policy is needed not just to enforce
action but also to instill values.

Maintaining a clean environment should be taught to children even in their early years.
Although such practice is already present in the Filipino culture, we cannot deny that
culture also evolves and some parts of it may be forgotten through time. Because of this, it
is important for good values and habits to be reinforced with policy support.

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The Local Government Code mentions that part of the LGUs’ task is to preserve the
environment, and maintain culture and values. The practice of protecting the environment
and preserving values are two inseparable things because values are deeply embedded in
every part of the constitution. Values are the essence as to why we uphold and defend the
constitution. As such, the priority of cleaning-up Iloilo City should also be backed-up with
clean values. These values should be instilled in the culture of Ilonggos.

To secure the values and habits of maintaining cleanliness, Iloilo City should look at the
children, who will be the future of the City. Children should be taught the responsibility
that cleanliness is a responsibility of everyone and that they can do their part even during
their young age. They must also learn that cleaning-up should not be seen as a mere
responsibility but also as a fun and interactive activity.

Policy supports that could make this happen should apply to both inside and outside of
school. Within schools, students should be given the responsibility to work with one
another in maintaining and cleanliness of both school premises and their homes. With this,
the support of parents is also needed in order to ensure that what is being taught in school is
also being applied to the children’s homes. As a supporting mechanism, people also need
to be provided with the opportunity to turn their garbage into cash. Doing so would also
encourage people to gather garbage and other recyclable materials thus also creating a
culture of picking-up the garbage even if it does not belong to them. Of course, it would
also be necessary for waste receptacles to be present in all areas. Heavier penalties should
also be enforced in order to ensure that the people are compliant. Also, institutionalizing
the “No Plastic Advocacy” by enacting ordinances regulating the use of plastics in the
community.

There is a saying that says, “It takes a village to raise a child”. In the case of Iloilo City, it
would take the entire city to raise children who are conscious of their environment.
Because of this, there is a need to instill in them and in the public values that specifically
aim to ensure that Iloilo City is spic-and-span.

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VI. REFERENCES

Kaufman W. No turning back: Dismantling the fantasies of environmental

thinking. New York: Basic Books; 1994. p. 212.

Tierney J. Recycling is garbage. New York Times Magazine. 30 June 1996. pp. 24–29.
44, 48, 51, 53.

UNESCO. Belgrade Charter. 1975.

UNESCO-UNEP International Environmental Program, 2007

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems and human well-being:

Synthesis. Washington (D.C.): Island Press; 2005. p. 137.

RA 7160, Local Government Code of the Philippines

Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No. 2004-149

Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No 2012-027

Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No. 2013-0336

Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No. 2015-305