Rapid Initial Criterion Key (RICK) Model
for Selection of Suitable Disposal Site
Using GIS Technology1
by
Rick Jayson A. Tatlonghari2
I.
Introduction
Careless disposal of municipal solid waste can create unsanitary conditions. Large
heaps of domestic waste spill across narrow streets, causing traffic delays. Dumping
garbage along streambeds constitutes a major health hazard and contributes to floods.
These conditions in turn can lead to pollution of the environment and outbreaks of vectorborne diseases, e.g., diseases spread by rodents and insects. In fact, this has been a prime
source of disease for centuries, either through the infection of water supplies or as a
breeding ground and feeding source for flies, rats, and other carriers of disease such as
schistosomiasis (a parasitic disease). These also pose a wide variety of administrative,
economic, and social problems that need to be addressed and solved.
Pollution, whether it is air, water, or land, has accompanied mankind ever since.
In fact, in the pristine period, human settlements could easily be recognized by their
pollutants. Pollution is associated with the incessant growth of our society.
Industrialization resulted in an enormous increase in the amount of waste generated per
person. One major evidence is the continuous accumulation of solid waste in Payatas,
Metro Manila, and even at any disposal site. Actually, in the late 1970s, between 50,000
and 58,000 pounds (22,700 and 26,300 kilograms) of refuse per person per year were
produced in the United States alone. In the Philippines, an average of 419 grams of
waste/person/day was generated. Every day, volumes of garbage or any form of waste
material have been recorded, and this amount can fill the surface of the moon. Thus,
various disposal strategies have been developed to decrease the volume of waste
generated every day. Among these are sanitary land filling, incinerating, recycling, and
ecological solid waste management.
In the province of Laguna, the tasks of collecting, treating, and disposing of solid
waste present complex technical challenges for the provincial government as well as the
municipal level. Open disposal sites are the most common waste management strategy in
the province for municipal solid waste. Actually, most of the municipalities in this
province have their own open dumpsite. However, most of the open dumpsites in each
municipality are located in places technically inappropriate for the purpose. Like the
disposal site of Paete, Laguna, which is located near the major road of the town and a
1
Seminar Paper submitted to Dr. Teodoro R. Villanueva. IRNR-CFNR, UPLB.
Graduate Student. ULPB Graduate School, Master of Science in Forestry, major in Forest Resources
Management and minor in Environmental Science. 2002.
2
2
block away from the town proper. Thus, pollution becomes proximate in the communities
and neighborhoods, affecting sanitation and hygiene. It had become evident that open
dumping and improper incineration of solid waste were causing problems of pollution
and public health.
The effects of pollution can be minimized if disposal sites are located in the right
places. It must be located far from residential areas, lakes, rivers, and streams. It must be
on level ground so that runoff doesn’t carry waste out of the disposal area, in less
populated areas to reduce health hazards, and in places with no occurrence of flooding to
avoid the transportation of pollution.
The selection of a suitable disposal site is one major issue today. In fact, the
mayor of Rodriguez, Rizal, is on the NPA hit list due to the dumpsite (PDI, Sept. 8,
2001). A disease outbreak is feared around Taytay, Rizal, due to refuses. Also, in
Barangay Daniel Fajardo, Las Piñas City, young residents joined their elders in a recent
rally against the dumping of garbage in their community since they’re being affected by
filth and stink (PDI, Sept. 10, 2001).
Proper environmental planning using rapid appraisal is very important in
identifying suitable sites and reducing the risk of any activities. Conservatively, the
development of landuse plans and management in a very short period of time will reduce
the quantity of waste at its source; nonetheless, it will reduce the hazardous effects both
on the physical environment and living organisms. The fact is given: garbage or any form
of waste is a daily by-product of man, and a one-day failure of collection will result in a
huge accumulation of refuse. Thus, an appropriate rapid initial criterion key model for the
selection of disposal sites is imperative to avoid such problems.
Rapid disposal site selection requires consideration of an initial criterion key, a
comprehensive set of factors, and the balancing of multiple objectives in determining the
suitability of a particular area. Current spatial decision-making could benefit from more
systematic methods of handling multi-criteria problems while considering the physical
suitability conditions. However, an appropriate rapid initial criterion key model of
landuse planning for identifying suitable disposal sites requires desirable, accurate,
timely, accessible, comprehensive, reliable, and affordable spatial information. Hence,
the use of geographic information systems to provide such information is imperative.
II.
Significance of the Study
A model is a representation, example, or pattern of something to be made.
Obviously, a model is a simplified representation of the real world and includes only
those variables relevant to the problem at hand. This is usually used to assist us in
understanding, describing, or predicting how things work in the real world through the
representation of factors that are basically important to the study.
The rapid initial criterion key model could play a vital role in determining suitable
areas for disposal sites at minimum requirements, essentially based on the preferences of
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the local community. Among these minimum requirements for suitable areas for disposal
sites are the following: (1) far from built-up areas or town areas, lakes, and rivers for the
protection of the community and to avoid contamination of the aquatic ecosystem; (2)
with a minimum distance of 50 meters from the road to avoid traffic due to large heaps of
domestic waste spilling across narrow streets, but it should be accessible at the same
time; (3) no occurrence of floods to avoid transport of bacteria and pollution; (4) slight to
no apparent soil erosion to avoid incidents and contamination of groundwater; and (5)
less populated areas to avoid health hazards and unsanitary living conditions.
Determination of a suitable area for disposal sites using a simple GIS-based
model with minimum requirements to come up with realistic suggestions in a very short
period of time is very important. This provides information at a low cost without
sacrificing effectiveness and efficiency. With this, decision-makers are expected to
address and, at the same time, satisfy the current issues rising both in socio-economics
and the environment, since GIS is a great tool to have necessary information for any
particular purpose. Also, since this is a GIS-based model, from time to time it can be
modified, shared, or changed according to the preferences of the community and the
objectives of the government. This will serve as a pattern to achieve a balanced
ecosystem through a sound environment and natural resource management.
III.
Objectives
The primary objective of the study is to provide techniques for examination and
information on current disposal sites for the whole province of Laguna. GIS will be used
as a guide in choosing a suitable disposal site that will provide a balanced ecosystem
through its incorporation in the decision-making process in the realm of environmental
and natural resource management.
Specifically, the objectives of the study are:
1. Develop a simple Rapid Initial Criterion Key (RICK) model for the selection of
suitable dumping sites using the Geographic Information System (GIS) for the
province of Laguna.
2. Demonstrate the application of GIS in assessing current disposal sites and
evaluating suitable areas for disposal sites. Research will focus on the major
issues affecting suitability analysis, like population density, landuse, slope,
elevation, soil erosion, flooding characteristics, built-up areas, and road networks
that influence the suitability of the site for dumping;
3. Provide computer-based information technology in the selection of suitable
disposal areas to be used by decision-makers. This will provide desirable,
accurate, timely, accessible, comprehensive, reliable, and affordable spatial
information for making better decisions;
4
4. Provide a three-dimensional image of a suitable area for the disposal site. This
will enhance the convincing power of the model and, at the same time, produce
realistic output for any form of validation (because the world isn’t flat); and
5. Provide a GIS-aided, user-friendly spatial information database for the province
of Laguna that will serve as a decision support system that answers questions on
location, conditions, trends, and patterns, among others. This will also be used as
the foundation of any decision system, especially to achieve effective
environmental management and development planning in our bountiful province
(Laguna).
IV.
Limitations and Duration of the Study
Due to constraints in time, background, capability, and financial status of the
researcher, this study focused only on the major selected open-disposal site of Laguna
and on the following maps made in 1996 by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management
with a scale of 1:250,000: soil erosion, flooding, population density, political boundary,
built-up areas, rivers and lakes, and slope; and a digital elevation model produced by the
International Rice Research Institute for elevation and contours. The scope of this study
also encompasses the current socio-demographic and economic features of the entire
province.
V.
Review of Related Literature
Concept of Geographic Information System (GIS)
The Geographic Information System, commonly known as GIS, was first used in
the development of Canadian Geographic Information Systems (Godilano, 1991).
Conventionally, the concept is somewhat analogous to the stereotype comparisons of
maps that were made on different dates. When maps on the same topic made on different
dates were viewed together to identify changes, and similarly, when maps showing
different kinds of information for the same area were overlaid to determine relationships,
the concept of GIS was actually in use.
5
The concept of GIS is basically analogous to a very large panel made up of
similarly shaped open boxes, with each box representing a specified area on the earth’s
surface. Once we identify each element of information about a particular attribute (soil,
rainfall, population) applicable to the area, we can place it in the corresponding box.
Theoretically, we can compile very large volumes of data in an orderly manner, as there
is no limit to the amount of information we can enter into each box. After assigning
relatively few attributes to the box system, it becomes obvious that a collection of
mapped information has been generated and can be overlaid to reveal spatial relationships
between the different attributes, i.e., hazardous events, natural resources, and socioeconomic phenomena (US EPA, 1988).
Role of GIS
Like GIS technology, digital data continuity and topological accuracy provide the
timely and accurate data required for decision-making.
Nowadays, geographic information systems (GIS) are considered a core discipline
of any information technology. It is defined as an organized collection of hardware,
software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update,
manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced data and
information for a particular set of purposes.
GIS is a technology that is rapidly spreading across university campuses. More
than 100 different academic disciplines around the world, covering every major division
within the university, use GIS tools for research. Close to 800 universities around the
world are doing research using ESRI’s GIS tools (ESRI, 2001).
The application of GIS is extremely expansive. Various fields of public health,
including chronic and infectious disease monitoring and surveillance, have recently
applied GIS technology. GIS has increasingly become an especially valuable tool in the
study of vector-borne and other zoonotic diseases (Pardanani, 1999). A wide variety of
disciplines can use GIS due to the spatial component of the data. Actually, criminal
justice is using GIS to analyze crime patterns, marketing is using the technology to refine
target marketing, public health schools are tracking the spread of disease, hydrologists are
mapping the spread of toxins in subsurface water, and foresters are more efficiently
managing their resources (ESRI 2001).
The only limits to GIS applications in natural risk management and development
planning are the amount of available information and the analyst's imagination. Readily
6
existing information on natural events (e.g., previous disaster records), scientific research
(papers, articles, newsletters, etc.), and hazard mapping (seismic fault and volcano
location, floodplains, erosion patterns, etc.) are usually enough to conduct a GIS
preliminary examination of the natural hazard condition and channel development
planning activities.
In the field of forestry, this technology has been widely used in land use planning,
rapid impact assessment, resource inventory, hydrologic modeling, fire management,
timber harvesting, detection of pests and diseases, monitoring and evaluation, and many
others.
Dyke (1997) says that combining different kinds of simulation models, statistical
models, and socio-economic models with GIS can make very useful analytical tools for
looking at different policy and management scenarios at all levels of decision-making,
from micro to macro watersheds. These tools can be useful for making national and
international policy. He also stated that modeling tools and supporting GIS systems are
an advancement to enhance watershed management and assist in the process of watershed
assessment and planning. Aside from that, as stated by Syam et al. (1999), GIS could
save substantial amounts of money by producing maps that show where and when to pick
crops, enhancing the very tedious and time-consuming logistics of moving crews and
equipment at night. As a result, it is considered a cost-effective information technology.
GIS-assisted spatial planning may contribute to environmentally acceptable
development and help resolve conflicts that would otherwise arise (Babu, 2000). People
widely use GIS to assess water quality. This technology facilitates the simple
organization and easy graphic presentation of geographic data, both spatially and
temporally, as pollution load data for a specific watershed (Jothimani, 2000).
Verhoef (2000) acknowledged that informational details, such as knowing the
path of stormwater through GIS, allow water authorities to respond to sewer blockages
that may overflow and discharge into the storm network.
In Alabama, GIS coverages were assembled to identify high-risk areas subject to
(1) shoreline erosion, (2) coastal flooding, and (3) hurricane storm surge. Using various
GIS and image processing tools, these three databases were combined into a common
geographic referencing system. Now a coastal scientist or planner can view both historic
and current shoreline change sampling data in one common format within a GIS (LaVoi,
1998).
GIS is one of the most popular spatial information technologies that supply
planners, both national and local, with a reference to the overall hazard conditions. It
provides ideas for identifying areas that need extra attention and an evaluation of natural
hazards for natural resource management and development potential. GIS has unique
abilities to manipulate, manage, and analyze geographic and land-related data sets.
Moreover, the visualization ability of GIS is more convincing than the written pages of
text. Visualization and graphical representation of information are critically important for
7
decision-making analysts as well as non-experts who need to understand the context as a
whole.
Many fields, from archeology to zoology, have acknowledged GIS as a valuable
spatial data analysis tool capable of providing useful information for planning and
management. It offers substantial advantages like increasing quantity of output, high
quality, and more timely output, which are vital in any decision-making system.
Furthermore, GIS can be a useful tool to facilitate thinking, negotiation, active
social construction of resources to be managed, and concerted decision-making on issues
concerning natural resource management (Gonzales, 2000).
Lastly, according to Jack Dangermound (ESRI 2001), “the application of GIS is
limited only by the imagination of those who use it.”
The advantage of using this technology in any field is that it makes the work fast,
allows the low-cost examination of large areas frequently, and provides an increasing
amount of data. Hence, this information technology calls for appropriate expertise since it
deals with technical procedures (e.g., database management systems) and discipline.
VI.
Materials and Methods
The Study Area
The province of Laguna, located in the southern part of Luzon, covers an area of
1,807 km2 and is subdivided into 30 municipalities, including its provincial capital and
two cities. The province is bounded on the north by Laguna de Bay (the largest lake in
the archipelago), on the south by the province of Batangas, on the east by the province of
Quezon, and on the west by the province of Cavite.
The Laguna landscape is comprised of a series of quiescent volcanoes alternating
with gently rolling to level plains. The province is also notable for a number of scenic
spots, like: (1) the famous Pagsanjan Falls; (2) numerous hot springs in Los Baños; (3)
the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal at Calamba; and (4) the home of the University of the
Philippines Los Baños.
Data Gathering and Analysis
Generally, the methodology for this study consists of three stages: (1) data
acquisition; (2) database processing, manipulation, analysis, and storage; and (3) product
creation.
In the first stage, all maps used in this study were gathered from the Bureau of
Soils and Water Management with a scale of 1:250,000, except for the topographic map
from NAMRIA with a scale of 1:50,000 and DEM from the International Rice Research
8
Institute (IRRI) and the GIS-IP laboratory. Locating major open dumpsites was done
through an informal interview with selected municipalities at selected major dumpsites.
The exact coordinates of the selected dumpsites were identified using the Global
Positioning System (GPS), and at the same time, pictures were taken for documentation.
A simple multi-disciplinary written interview was conducted to identify the most
important factors (based on available data only) that needed to be considered and to rate
areas according to a set of criteria in determining a suitable area for disposal.
In the second stage, all the gathered maps were digitized, edited, labeled,
manipulated, and analyzed at the International Rice Research Institute, Social Science
Division, GIS-IP Laboratory. Maps with a scale of 1:250,000 were digitized using onscreen digitizing, while maps with a scale of 1:50,000 were digitized using tablets. The
elevation and contour were derived from the DEM. The software used for this study is
Arc/Info 3.5 and Arc View 3.2a. Spatial Analyst 2.2 extension tool in the Arc View GIS,
particularly the ModelBuilder, was used for the conversion of vector data to grid,
buffering, rating, and reclassifications to assess the current dumping site and to determine
the suitable area for the disposal site in Laguna province.
Specifically, the following were done:
1. Derivation of contours from DEM. A 10-meter contour interval was derived from
DEM; this was to obtain an elevation map and construct a 3-dimensional image of
the rapid initial criterion key model.
2. Construction of the Rapid Initial Criterion Key (RICK) Model using the Arc View
ModelBuilder extension tool. Each node (data and function node) was defined
according to the projected output (from vector to grid conversion up to
reclassification). All grid maps have the following properties: (a) cell size of 10 m;
(b) 6667 rows; and (c) 6577 columns. For buffer, 3 km buffer zones of uniform
distance were drawn around rivers, lakes, and built-up areas; 1 km buffer zones of
uniform distance were drawn inside the provincial boundary; and 100 m buffer zones
of uniform distance were drawn around roads.
3. On the arithmetic overlay table, scale values were defined based on the objectives.
Table 1 designates a value of 1 as the least suitable parameter and a value of 10 as
the most suitable parameter. Briefly, rank 1 to 2 is considered not suitable (NS1 and
NS2), rank 3 to 4 is lowly suitable (LS1 and LS2), rank 5 to 6 is moderately suitable
(MS1 and MS2), rank 7 to 8 is suitable (S1 and S2), and rank 9 to 10 is highly
suitable (HS1 and HS2).
9
Table 1. Scale Value for Suitability Classification
Input Theme
Slope
Population
Flooding
Elevation
Erosion
Landuse
Labeled
Value
0 - 18 %
10
8 - 18 %
8
> - 18%
1
Very High (>1,001)
1
High (801 - 1001)
1
Medium (601 - 800)
5
Low (401 - 600)
8
Very Low (<401)
10
Severe Flooding
1
Moderate Flooding (.5 - 1m for 1 to 2 days)
1
Run-off Flooding (depth of .5m)
3
None Flooding
10
2001 - 3000 masl
1
1001 - 2000 masl
1
501 - 1000 masl
1
301 - 500 masl
4
100 - 300 masl
8
<100
10
Severely Eroded (50% of A is eroded)
1
Moderately Eroded (25 - 50% of A is eroded)
3
Slightly Eroded (25% of A is eroded)
7
No Apparent Erosion
10
Agricultural Areas
1
Agricultural extension
2
Presently Covered with Grasses + Coconut
10
4. After all inputs and scale values were defined, the model was run accordingly.
5. Output was manipulated using GeoProcessing and some other extensions of
ArcView to delineate areas and other important data and information.
6. Construction of a three-dimensional model of suitable areas for disposal sites.
This was done using a 3D analyst for better visualization of reality. 3D Analyst is
another extension tool of Arc View.
In the last stage, all outputs were presented for comments or suggestions,
documentation, and improvement. And for the contributions to society, the output was
submitted to the provincial government.
10
VII.
Results and Discussion of the Study
Digitized Maps
11
12
90
80
70
60
13
14
RICK Model
Generally, the model is based on the cartographic model (Fig. 15) and was made
possible from the basic requirements of local people for suitable area for dumping sites
with the aid of GIS technology particularly the ModelBuilder (included in Spatial Analyst
2.2) of Arc View 3.2a. The model was divided into three parts: (1) the creation of Buffer
Map of roads, rivers, lakes, built-up areas, and provincial boundary; (2) creation of
Suitability Map based on flooding map, population density map, slope map, elevation
map, erosion map, and landuse map; and (3) output overlay of buffer map and suitability
map for the determination of suitable disposal site.
Secondary
Data
Ground
Truth Data
Road Networks,
Lakes, Rivers, Builtup Areas, Boundary
Population
Density Map
Slope Map
Landuse
Elevation
Map
Flooding
Map
GIS
Synthesis
Comments/
Suggestion/
Improvement
Buffer of Roads, Rivers,
Lakes, Built-up Areas, and
Provincial Boundary
BUFFER MAP
Line-of-Sight
Analysis through
3Dimensional
Images of Suitable
Area for Disposal
Sites
Erosion
Map
Suitability of Potential Area
(Conversion of vector to grid,
reclassifications, initial
overlay)
SUITABLE AREA
MAP
Suitable Disposal Sites and Partial
Assessment of Current Disposal Site
Figure 9. Cartographic Model
GPS Reading
of Current
Disposal
Sites
15
In the first part, buffers were created to avoid contaminants in rivers and lakes,
keep away from filth and stink, minimize the effect of pollutants from the built-up areas,
prevent conflicts between provinces, and take health precautions.
The second part was made to determine the suitability of a potential area for disposal
sites. The basic reasons are: (1) there should be no occurrence of flood to avoid
transportation of pollutants and avoid contamination of water resources; (2) should be
placed in less populated areas (if possible on unpopulated areas) to minimize its effect
and for the protection of the communities; (3) on moderate to flat terrain to stay away
from accidents during dumping, avoid the transport of pollutants during rainy days due to
run-off; (4) should be placed on < 500 masl as provided by law; (5) soil erosion is
included since it affect the volume capacity of the area, to lessen the incident during
dumping, and the impact to environment especially on soil resources; and (6) lastly, it
should be placed on areas that are considered as less to non-productive land.
The third part of the RICK model is just an overlay of two output maps, the buffer map
and the suitable area map. Only suitable areas that are found outside the buffer map were
considered suitable areas for disposal sites. To simplify:
+
Basically, buffer maps will serve as early protection for pollution produced by
refuse. This will reduce health hazards, prevent spreading diseases through rodents and
insects (e.g., houseflies), and reduce the effects of pollution such as smoke, stink, and
filth.
16
=
Prior to, without buffer maps, potential areas for suitable disposal sites were
approximately 30,816.689 ha; however, after buffer maps were applied, the potential
areas for suitable disposal sites were reduced to 4,405.486 ha (Table 2).
Table 2. Showing the Area in hectare for each Classification.
Grid
Suitability Suitable Area without
Code
Classifications
Code
Buffer Map (ha)
1
Not Suitable
NS1
0
2
NS2
181.28
3
Low Suitable
LS1
5,996.268
4
LS2
18,564.416
5
Moderately Suitable
MS1
73,348.598
6
MS2
51,798.815
7
Suitable
S1
27,193.016
8
S2
3,623.673
9
Highly Suitable
HS1
0
10
HS2
0
Total
180,706.066
Suitable Area with
Buffer Map (ha)
0
37.462
2,039.773
6,078.957
16,871.165
10,668.057
4,263.642
141.844
0
0
40,100.9
Specifically, the suitability map derived from this model has the following results
for each municipality (Table 3).
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The results revealed that only five municipalities have a potential suitable area for
disposal sites. These are Alaminos, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, San Pedro, and Sta. Cruz.
The final output shows that 11 out of 25 municipalities in Laguna Province fall
under the category of suitable, and the rest fall under the category of low to moderately
suitable. Out of 11 municipalities, only 4 have a value of S2. These are Bay, Calauan,
Nagcarlan, and Victoria (Table 4). Unfortunately, Laguna Province doesn’t have highly
suitable areas for disposal sites since these areas fall under moderate and suitable
categories only.
Table 4. Summary of Municipality having Suitable Area for Disposal Sites
Municipality Name
Grid Code
Suitability Code
Area (ha)
Bay
7
S1
98.051
8
S2
0.034
Biñan
7
S1
37.930
Calauan
7
S1
50.367
8
S2
35.918
Cavinti
7
S1
777.633
Famy
7
S1
194.007
Luisiana
7
S1
34.996
Nagcarlan
7
S1
38.983
8
S2
101.178
San Pablo
7
S1
2,577.869
Santa Maria
7
S1
380.597
Santa Rosa
7
S1
22.666
Victoria
7
S1
12.058
8
S2
4.713
Initial Assessment of Current Selected Dumping Sites
Seven major open-disposal sites in Laguna province were selected, namely:
Calauan, Famy, Jamboree (Los Baños), Paete, Pakil, Pangil, and Siniloan. Based on the
exact geographic locations (Table 5), with the aid of GPS, these selected disposal sites
were put on an identified map of suitable areas for disposal sites in Laguna Province.
Table 5. Coordinates of Selected Disposal Sites
LONGTITUDE
LATITUDE
SITE
121.4625833
14.42686111
Siniloan
121.4362222
14.44105556
Famy
121.4696667
14.41941667
Pangil
121.4793056
14.37205556
Paete
121.4756111
14.37816667
Pakil
121.2215556
14.16438889
Jamboree
121.3069167
14.13080556
Calauan
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Based on the map, these seven selected disposal sites fell into the category of not
suitable sites (Figure 13).
Generally, these selected seven major open-disposal sites have the following
characteristics observed during on-field observation, Table 6.
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Table 6. Description of the Selected Open-Disposal Sites.
Disposal Sites
Calauan
Famy
Jamboree
(Los Baños)
Paete
Pakil*
Pangil
Siniloan
Location
Description
Near the major road
(routing san Pablo
to Calauan and vice
versa),
approximately 10 –
20 m.
Open disposal
site, cemented
fence with steel
gate.
Alongside of
national highway
(via Rizal-Laguna),
almost at the road
edge, on steep
slope.
Open disposal
site, with
approximately
1.5 meter height
hallow-blocks
wall below the
site.
Distance
from Distance from
the
built-up areas
creek/river/lake
Not observed
Approximately
1km
Approximately
one meter away
from the wall.
Approximately
> 1km but less
than 2 km.
Approximately
one kilometer,
thus, smoke
pollution is
readily
available during
nighttime.
Inside the Makiling
Forest Reserve,
along the ravine.
Open disposal
site with
galvanizes fence
and gate.
Average of 5 – 6
meters away from
intermittent creek.
Alongside of
provincial highway
besides private
cemetery.
Located in flooding
area (extensions of
lake during rainy
seasons).
Located at the
upland, alongside
the road and along
the ravine.
Located in
agricultural land
(rice field),
alongside the
highway.
Open disposal
site with
galvanizes fence
and gate.
Open disposal
site with
galvanizes fence
and gate.
Not observed.
Open disposal
site, no walls.
Not Observed.
Approximately
1.5 km away.
Not Observed.
Approximately
2-3 km away.
*With notice of closure
Open disposal
site with
galvanizes fence
and gate.
A block away
fro town proper.
Approximately <
800 m away from
the lake.
< 1km away
from town
proper.
20
Three-Dimensional Images of RICK Model
Figure 14. 3D Image Showing the Suitable Area for Disposal Sites (North Oriented), Laguna Province.
Figure 15. 3D Image Showing the Suitable Area for Disposal Sites (South Oriented), Laguna Province.
21
Three-dimensional images show the suitable and possible sites for disposal in a
more interactive way. Through these images, decision-makers and non-experts can
perform line-of-sight analysis by just looking at the model, since visualization is much
more accepted by the local people than written pages of text. Therefore, both sectors have
the ability to determine the areas to exclude from disposal sites, even if they fall under a
suitable category.
Conclusion
The study's results led the researcher to draw the following conclusions:
1. There is no serious environmental planning in most of the municipalities,
particularly when dealing with garbage disposal, since most of the disposal sites
are in places technically inappropriate for such uses.
2. There is poor implementation of any laws and policies on proper disposal of
garbage since most of the sites for disposal of refuse are generally in the wrong
place.
3. Generally, concerned agencies for the protection of the environment and the
community don’t have serious programs and/or projects. The fact is, most of our
disposal sites are placed in unsuitable areas.
4. The use of modern information technology, such as Geographic Information
Systems (GIS), provides the resource manager with valuable tools for
management and decision-making. Also, the use of advanced technology for
gathering and extracting information for better decision-making is a step forward
to decreasing environmental effects while making an appropriate environmental
plan since this reduces the time consumption to produce suitable output that will
serve as a framework for successful natural resources and environmental
management.
5. The benefits of a continuous digital coverage of any environmental planning are
not only effective and efficient to environmental planners but also have enormous
benefit to local, provincial and national governments. Identifying suitable areas
using a simple model and with the aid of advance technology such as RICK
model using GIS is a hopeful towards improving the management of our land
resources particularly the allocation of land for disposal sites which basically the
source of pollutions to local communities. Aside from this, initial assessment is
readily available and possible from time to time.
22
Recommendation
The study's findings lead to the following recommendations:
1. Since 25 out of 30 municipalities have a potential area for disposal sites, this
paper strongly recommends relocating their dumpsite to the identified suitable
areas for disposal sites, and those municipalities that don’t have potential areas
should find ways to seek alternative solutions, such as contracting their nearby
municipality with a suitable area for disposal sites like what Cabuyao town did
(paying taxes with Calamba municipality just for their refuse).
2. The government, both municipal and provincial, should strictly implement the
environmental laws or policies regarding this matter and conduct further studies
before allocating the area to disposal sites.
3. The Laguna provincial government and the municipalities should consider the
proper placement of disposal sites. This is to avoid environmental degradation and
for the protection of the communities. Common observable pollution brought by
these disposal sites includes odors, filth, smoke, and diseases spread by flies. The
placement of the disposal sites in an inappropriate area will undoubtedly have a
significant negative impact on both the local community and the environment.
4. The development of GIS facilities for each municipality will provide them with an
effective and efficient tool for environmental planning and enough information
for better decision-making. This will reduce the risk of making an inappropriate
decision.
5. The author recommends the improvement of this model for further application.
23
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