I.

Issues/concerns (Philippines) Philippines is rich in natural resources like water resources, land resources, mineral resources and energy resources. Unfortunately, we are the one who destroyed these resources. The following are the issues/concerns facing by the Philippines today: Issues: Widespread of Informal Settlers. This increase pollution and floods. Action: One of the projects of the government is to transfer these informal settlers to a relocation sites. They also planned to build houses for the informal settlers. Issues: Capturing and selling of endangered species. Action The government implemented the Republic Act No. 9147. An act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes. Issues Illegal Logging Action: One of the problems facing by the Philippines is illegal logging. Because of this, they implemented the Republic Act 9175. This act stated the ownership, possession, sale, importation and use of chainsaws.

II.

Issues/concerns (Town/City) Issues:

Legazpi City is always experiencing floods. The city is two meters below sea level during high tide which gets worse during the rainy season where almost one-third of the city is underwater. The primary effects of flooding include loss of life, damage to buildings and other structures, including bridges, sewerage systems, roadways, and canals. Floods also frequently damage power transmission and sometimes power generation, which then has knock-on effects caused by the loss of power. This includes loss of drinking water treatment and water supply, which may result in loss of drinking water or severe water contamination. It will be recalled that during Typhoon Reming on Nov. 30, 2006, Legazpi was submerged by sea and flood waters from Mt. Mayon that the eastern side of Albay district where the provincial capitol and city hall are located was flooded by as high as 7 feet, forcing residents to flee to safer grounds. Close to 2,000 people were killed by floods in Albay province and more than 200 in Legazpi City as a result of floods that cascaded down from Mt. Mayon. Action: Albays strong disaster risk reduction (DRR) program is slowly transforming vulnerable areas into resilient communities, led by this city, with an ongoing P2-billion flood control project designed to save it from massive flooding. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the project will reinvent Legazpi City as an all-weather community and live up to its role as regional center of Bicol politically, economically, and as a model of disaster resiliency. The governor, who chairs the Bicol Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), endorsed the project and sought President Aquino approval for it, during the Presidents first visit here three years ago. Salceda said the project is a modern flood control facility, with giant pumping stations installed in three strategic locations around the citys urban center covering the entire commercial, industrial and residential areas to flush out floodwaters to the Albay Gulf. The Department of Public Works and Highways has started work on the support structures with the initial P800 million earlier released by the Department of Budget and Management.

The Legazpi pumping stations will be installed in the flood prone coastal barangays of Victory Village, Bonot and San Roque, following the construction of giant dikes along the Macabalo River. A jetty will also be constructed on the banks of Yawa River to maintain the steady flow of floodwaters and protect dikes from over-flooding

III.

Issues/concerns (Barangay)

We all know that in different places there is always an environmental problem/concern like in Barangay Maoyod. Barangay Maoyod is one of the barangays of Legazpi. What are the environmental concerns facing by the Barangay Maoyod and what actions taken by the barangay officials and residents to solve this problem? Issue: The residents of Barangay Maoyod did not segregate their waste and they did not throw their garbage in a proper place. It results to floods everytime there is a heavy rain. Action: They effectively adapt the No Segragation, No Collection Policy. Issue: Signage is very important because it tells us the right thing to do. It is a reminder to people to become aware in their surroundings. There is no signage in Barangay Maoyod. Action: Barangay officials started to post a signage in every corner of Barangay Maoyod. The signage that they posted is about cleanliness. Example: BASURA MO, SEGREGATE MO!, ANG MAGTAPOK NG BASURA DITO, DUSTA!, TANGOD KO LINIS KO. Issue: There is no compost fit in Barangay Maoyod that will serve as the storage of spoiled waste. Dogs/cats took the spoiled waste from garbage bag and they tend to scattered it.

Action: Because of this, residents volunteered to make a compost fit which supported by the barangay officials. IV. School Based Institutions Waste Segregation and community service is the main project of SSG and CAT officers of AMEC Science High School. Waste is one of the main environmental problems of the Philippines. Waste, if not discarded properly, may result to floods, water and land pollution, and widespread of diseases. To reduce these problems, the SSG of AMEC Science High School decided to adapt the so called segregation. The policy was implemented long time ago, but still, it is not effective. This year, the SSG of AMECSHS formed a plan on how they can help to implement this policy. So far, they were able to execute their first plan. Adapt this policy in their school. They request for the help of CAT Officers. Their first step is to put 3 garbage bags in every room. One garbage bag is for plastic bottles and papers, the other one is for biodegradable and the other is for non-biodegradable. They separate the plastic bottles and papers because they can sell it, the money they collected is for their funds for activities. CAT officers of AMEC SHS had a community service in Brgy. Pinaric. The objectives of this community service are to maintain cleanliness and orderliness of the barangay to contribute for the environment cleanliness. This year, CAT officers of AMEC SHS planned to encourage the youth especially the SK to clean the rivers of their barangays. But unfortunately this project is still not final or it still in the planning process. These projects are great help not only in our environments but also to us. To us, because we are the one who will be affected if our environment is not habitable because of waste and pollution.

BICOL UNIVERSITY Legazpi, Albay

Environmental Issues and Struggles

Geography

Submiitted by: Melody D. Campomanes

Submitted to Dr. Marcia Rico Professor