Integrating bioscience into waste education management for sustainable development in the Philippines: The serve, understand, respect waste education management (SURWEM) extension project
Paper Details
Integrating bioscience into waste education management for sustainable development in the Philippines: The serve, understand, respect waste education management (SURWEM) extension project
Abstract
The serve, understand, respect waste education management (SURWEM) extension project seeks to empower communities in sustainable waste management practices by integrating bioscience principles with local education efforts. In response to the growing challenges of solid waste generation and its environmental impacts, this initiative focuses on developing functional and sustainable backyard gardens within local barangays. The project promotes the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides, reinforcing the connection between waste management and ecological health. Over a span of three years, SURWEM uses a participatory approach to educate community members through research-based seminars, workshops, and hands-on training. Participants learn effective waste segregation techniques, recycling methods, and the application of bioscience in waste conversion processes. This comprehensive education framework aims to foster a culture of sustainability, encouraging local residents to engage actively in environmental stewardship. The project also emphasizes the importance of community partnerships and stakeholder involvement, ensuring that knowledge transfer is not only effective but also sustainable in the long term. By creating an inclusive platform for dialogue and sharing best practices, the SURWEM project generates a ripple effect in promoting waste management awareness across multiple barangays. Ultimately, this initiative contributes to the overarching goals of sustainable development by equipping individuals with the skills necessary to manage waste responsibly, enhance food security through community gardening, and pursue an eco-friendly lifestyle. Through these efforts, SURWEM strives to create resilient communities capable of addressing environmental challenges collectively.
Acosta V, Paul J, Lao C, Aguinaldo E, Valdez MDC. 2012. Development of the Philippines national solid waste management strategy 2012–2016. Procedia Environmental Sciences 16, 9–16.
Administrative Order No. 90. 1993. Creating a Project Management Office on Solid Waste Management under the Presidential Task Force on Waste Management.
Alave K. 2011. Metro Manila produces a fourth of Philippine garbage. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/42317/metro-manila-produces-a-fourth-of-philippine-garbage
Ancog RC, Archival ND, Rebancos CM. 2012. Institutional arrangements for solid waste management in Cebu City, Philippines. Journal of Environmental Science and Management 15(2).
Bernardo EC. 2008. Solid‐waste management practices of households in Manila, Philippines. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1140(1), 420–424.
Calder S. 2018. Boracay: Philippines closes popular tourist island for ‘rehabilitation’. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/borocay-philippines-island-closure-tourists-six-months-rehabilitation-duterte-a8288881.html
Castillo AL, Otoma S. 2013. Status of solid waste management in the Philippines. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 24, 677.
Choi HJ. 2016. The environmental effectiveness of solid waste management. (Master’s thesis).
Damaso R. 2016. Status of the Solid Waste Management Program of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus, Bacnotan, La Union, 7.
De La Cruz. 2016. Exclusive: La Union locals express concern over construction of four-star resort. https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/68764/san-juan-la-union-new-resort-a00171-20161219-lfrm
Debrah JK, Vidal DG, Dinis MAP. 2021. Raising awareness on solid waste management through formal education for sustainability: A developing countries evidence review. Recycling 6(1), 6.
Department of Education. 2014. DO 5, s. 2014: Guidelines on the implementation of Gulayan sa Paaralan.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). n.d. Recycling basics and benefits. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics-and-benefits
Giang HM. 2017. A study on development methodology of sustainable solid waste management system using multi-objective decision making model: A case study in Hoi An City, Vietnam.
Ishigaki T, Hirata O, Oda T, Wangyao K, Chiemchaisri C, Shirintornthep T, Lee D-H, Yamada M. 2011. Greenhouse gas emission from solid waste disposal sites in Asia. In Integrated Waste Management – Volume II (pp. 461–472). InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/17606
Japan Environmental Sanitation Center. 2012. About JESC. https://www.jesc.or.jp/en/tabid/164/Default.aspx
Jones J. 2019. Ocean Conservancy International Clean-up: Fighting ocean plastics in all places.
Juego A. 2017. Promoting a culture of recycling. https://business.inquirer.net/237827/promoting-culture-recycling
Lane V. 2014. Japan’s garbage disposal system explained. https://www.tofugu.com/japan/garbage-in-japan/
Licy CD, Vivek R, Saritha K, Anies TK, Josphina CT. 2013. Awareness, attitude and practice of school students towards household waste management. Journal of Environment 2(6), 147–150.
Macawile J, Su G. 2009. Local government officials’ perceptions and attitudes towards solid waste management in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines. Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation 4(1), 63–69.
Magalang AA. 2013. Municipal solid waste management in the Philippines. In: Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Springer, Singapore, 281–297.
Mariano T. 2020. Community participation in solid waste management: Barangay Potrero’s waste warriors. https://resilientphilippines.com/2020/10/community-participation-in-solid-waste-management-barangay-potreros-waste-warriors/
Marumo DS, Madisa ME, Lesole T. 2017. The effectiveness of backyard gardening initiative in poverty eradication: The case of beneficiaries in Ramotswa Village, Botswana. Journal of Poverty, Investment and Development 33, 2–16.
Noufal M, Yuanyuan L, Maalla Z, Adipah S. 2020. Determinants of household solid waste generation and composition in Homs City, Syria. Journal of Environmental and Public Health 2020(1), 7460356.
Obinna C. 2015. How improper waste disposal damages health. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/how-improper-waste-disposal-damages-health/
Paul JG, Arce-Jaque J, Ravena N, Villamor SP. 2012. Integration of the informal sector into municipal solid waste management in the Philippines–What does it need? Waste Management 32(11), 2018–2028.
Periathamby A, Hamid FS, Khidzir K. 2009. Evolution of solid waste management in Malaysia: Impacts and implications of the solid waste bill, 2007. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 11, 96–103.
Presidential Decree No. 825. 1975. Presidential Decree No. 825, s. 1975. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1975/11/07/presidential-decree-no-825-s-1975/
Ranada P. 2015. Why PH is world’s 3rd biggest dumper of plastics in the ocean. https://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/108276-philippines-plastic-pollution-ocean-conservancy-study
Republic Act No. 7160. 1991. Republic Act No. 7160. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160/
Republic Act No. 9003. 2001. Republic Act No. 9003. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2001/01/26/republic-actno-9003-s-2001/
Republic of the Philippines. 2000. Republic Act 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. House of Representatives, 43 pp.
Romero P. 2020. PH facing garbage crisis: 16.6 million metric tons of waste this year can fill 99 Philippine arenas. https://www.onenews.ph/phl-facing-garbage-crisis-16-6-million-metric-tons-of-waste-this-year-can-fill-99-philippine-arenas
SMILE. 2001. Sincerity, Mission-focused, Innovation, Leadership and Excellence. Institute of Environmental Studies, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – North La Union Campus.
Soderholm P. 2011. Household behaviour and environmental policy: Review of empirical evidence and policy issues. Washington, DC: Earthscan. ISBN: 978-1-84407-897-4.
Trang PTT, Dong HQ, Toan DQ, Hanh NTX, Thu NT. 2017. The effects of socio-economic factors on household solid waste generation and composition: A case study in Thu Dau Mot, Vietnam. Energy Procedia 107, 253–258.
United Nations Environment Programme. 2012. https://www.unep.org/
Villaruel JE. 2019. Sad side of Siargao: DENR to launch operation on viral trash site. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/30/19/sad-side-of-siargao-denr-to-launch-operation-on-viral-trash-site
Virata J. 2018. Dumping of raw sewage on Boracay Island is killing corals. http://johnvirata.com/2013/02/21/dumping-of-raw-sewage-on-boracay-island-philippines-is-killing-corals/
World Bank. 2018. World Bank Group – International Development, Poverty & Sustainability. https://www.worldbank.org/
Violeta F. Collado, 2025. Integrating bioscience into waste education management for sustainable development in the Philippines: The serve, understand, respect waste education management (SURWEM) extension project. Int. J. Biosci., 26(5), 84-95.
Copyright © 2025 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.