On September 25, 2024, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), through the Partnership Development Division (PDD), held a coordination meeting with the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) and Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) of Taysan, Batangas to discuss a Capstone Project aimed at improving solid waste management (SWM) practices in a pilot barangay in Taysan. 

The MLGU was represented by the Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO)/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO), Engr. Clarisse A. Comia and other MAO/MENRO personnel. 

 

Meanwhile, Chairperson Eduardo B. Capili represented the MAFC, who thanked PCAF for considering the MAFC of Taysan as a partner in implementing a collaboration project toward proper solid waste management practices. 

PCAF-PDD Assistant Chief, Ms. Conchita S. Del Rosario, who joined the Capstone Project (CP) Team, expressed gratitude to Chairperson Capili and Engr. Comia for accommodating the request of PCAF for a meeting about the Capstone Project and its possible implementation in Taysan. 

On the other hand, Engr. Comia confirmed that there are challenges in the municipality’s solid waste management, such as the MENRO not yet institutionalized, no existing municipal ordinance relative to solid waste management (SWM), not all Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) having proper recording mechanisms, and the 10-year SWM Plan not being properly implemented as scheduled. 

Following the meeting, Engr. Comia and Chairperson Capili agreed to support the project and its pilot implementation in Taysan, recommending Poblacion West as the pilot barangay through ongoing coordination.

 

On September 26, 2024, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to assess the municipality’s existing solid waste management (SWM) program and practices and identify the main issues/gaps in its SWM policies, logistics, and technologies. Two (2) FGDs were conducted: one (1) with the private sector and one (1) with government sector representatives. 

The information gathered during the FGD served as a vital input in crafting the survey questionnaire, which will assess the current waste management behavior, barriers and benefits, motivation, social norms, and awareness of proper SWM practices of the residents in the pilot barangay. 

The results of the FGD and the pilot implementation will also be used to develop recommendations to address the identified issues on SWM policies, logistics, and technologies.

 

Also joining the meeting and FGDs were RAFC Coordinator, Ms. Jacqueline G. Sunga, and RAFC Staff, Ms. Ma. Erlie G. Diaz. 

The above activities were conducted to implement the Capstone Project, “Improved Implementation of Proper Solid Waste Management Practices through LGU-AFC Collaboration: A Model of Stakeholder Communication and Engagement.” 

The CP Team executing the project is being led by Ms. Charmine Joy T. Esta, PCAF-PDD Social Mobilization Section (SMS) Chief and a scholar under the Development Academy of the Philippines’ Public Management Development Program (PMDP) – Middle Managers Class (MMC) Batch 33.

The project is being implemented in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office (RFO) IV-A and the Regional AFC (RAFC) IV-A. 

The team also had a courtesy visit with the DA-RFO IV-A Regional Executive Director, Fidel L. Libao, and the Taysan Municipal Mayor, Hon. Edilberto T. Abaday.