Tullahan River Communities Rapid Environmental Appraisal

Tullahan River
Communities Rapid
Environmental Appraisal
Environmental Action Research
Technologies for Humanity (EARTH)
Team
(SPM-Resource Center for Philippines Rivers)

From EMB-NCR

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

We went to the community to assess the general environmental
condition, with emphasis on solid waste management situation, of
the Tullahan river community/ies
Specifically, we seek to
Describe the psycho-social environment of the river community/ies and
its implications to the rehabilitation and management/development of
the river
Look into the relationships and interactions between the physical and
human, social factors operating within the surrounding environment of
the river and its tributaries by looking at
– The existing land use plan against the actual at the city and community level
– The type of activities dominant in the community and the kind of waste
generated in the area
Examine the generation pattern and management of solid waste of
Brgy Potrero, Malabon City

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Methods
Case Study
Survey
Informal Interviews and Pagpapakwento
Reconnaissance
Photo Documentation
Document Analysis

Target Barangays/Communities
# Malabon City Population # Valenzuela City Population
1 Potrero 45,081 1 Marulas 54,753
2 Tinajeros 18,387 2 Gen T. De Leon 95,536
3 Ugong
# Quezon City Population # Quezon City Population
1 Bagbag 33,249 8 Commonwealth 172,834
2 Talipapa 34,632 9 Sta Monica 44,186
3 San Bartolome 44,631 10 Sta Lucia 24,050
4 Gulod 56,620 11 Sauyo 67,587
5 Nagkaisang Nayon 46,064 12 San Agustin 22,284
6 Pasong Putik 28,848 13 Novaliches Proper 14,737
7 Holy Spirit 106,038 14 Fairview 47, 464
# Kalookan City Population # (downstream) Population
1 160 --
2 162
3 163

RESEARCH FINDINGS

1. Psycho-Social Environment
In this study “psycho-social environment”
refers to
– the thoughts, perceptions, and relationships of
the people in the community regarding the
Tullahan river and its condition, solid waste
management, and other concerns relating to
community life mentioned in this study.

Respondents: Gender
Lalaki: 402
Babae: 748
Bilang ng mga Lalake at Babae
Lalake
35%
Babae
65%

Respondents: Civil Status
Iba/Biyud
o/Biyuda
1%
Binata
15%
Dalaga
13%
Mayasawa
71%

Two Types of Residential Settler
Settlers are of two types: the formal settlers
(homeowners and industries) and a majority
of informal settlers (estimated at about
5,000 families along the river stretch) and

Healthy Communities
The people generally see themselves and
their families as healthy. At the upstream,
most of the respondents think their
environment is just fine; at the midstream,
many of the respondents think their
environment is not fine. The majority think
sanitation in their community is just fine.

Survey Question and Response
48. Nabibigyan ba ng sapat na nutrisyon sa pagkain ang miyembro
ng pamilya?
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Oo Hindi Minsan Hindi tiyak

Rich and Poor Divide
the river appears to be reflective of the rich
and poor divide in our society with the poor
seemingly being united with or associated
with the river.

River bank Informal Settlers
City
IS
Quezon City 1260
Kaloocan 600
Valenzuela 1072
Malabon 2124
Total 4956

Survey Question and Response
1. Ang inyong lupa po ba ay
pag mamay-ari?
Hindi
58%
Oo
42%
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2. Ang inyong bahay po ba ay?
56.61
27.48
15.91
Pag-aari Nakikitira Inuupahan

The River is for the Poor
The river is for the poor. “Only the poor
goes to the river,” says one of the affluent
interviewee, a riverbank resident. The river
is dirty, unpleasant and neglected; it looks
like one of the margins in our society.

Brgy Potrero: Settlers at the
stretch of the river bank

Brgy Marulas: A Colony of Informal
Settlers too…

Brgy Ugong: A colony of informal
settlers

QC: A colony of informal settlers not only
in the riverbanks but on the riverbed as
well…

Informal Settlers
“Informal settlers occupy not only vast
tracts of public and private lands but also
riverbanks, creeksides, aqueducts and
transmission lines.” (Emphasis mine, QC
CLUP, p. 17)

There is SWM Problem in the
community
Most of the respondents think their community
has problems with solid waste management but
most of them are also contented with the waste
management in their community though.
Many of them also think there is a problem in the
quality of the air they breathe. Most of the
respondents agree that something has to be done in
resolving the problem on solid waste management
and that the burden is both on the government and
the people.

Survey Question and Response
16. May mga suliranin po ba kayo sa
inyong kapaligiran Sa pamamahala sa
basura
Wala
44%
Meron
56%

Who throws garbage into the
river?
Hard evidences of which communities throw
waste straight into the river, or through
waterways
– Residents of Elysian Subdivision near F Bautista
Street, Marulas, Valenzuela City
– Residents of Brgy Potrero around Dona Juana
Street, Malabon, City

Settlers on both sides of the river
dump garbage into the river

Gen T. De Leon, VC - Libis, KC

The woman getting inside their shack just
threw two bags of garbage into the river:
the green and white bags floating…

Brgy Ugong, VC – Sta Quiteria,
KC

Tullahan River
Sta Monica, QC, 2009
Tullahan River
Talipapa – San Bartolome, QC, 2009
Tullahan River
Odelco Subdivision, San Bartolome, QC, 2009
Tullahan River
Odelco Subdivision, San Bartolome, QC, 2009

38. Ano po ang pumapasok sa isipan ninyo
kapag nababanggit ang ilog o batis sa inyong
lugar?
68.26
37.57
17.48 15.3
6.174
Marumi Basura Mga squatters Patay na hayop Iba pa

Is the entire river loaded with
garbage?

Except for some floating debris,
the waters here are clearer…

QC Upstream: At last! We still have
clear waters in the river…

2. Relationships and Interactions
between the Physical and Human,
Social Factors in the Community

The relationships and interactions between the physical and human, social
factors operating within the surrounding environment of the river and its
tributaries: Land Use
Potrero River Community
– Mainly Industrial and Commercial
– Partly Residential
– Some Vacant Lots
– Waterways invaded by settlers
Marulas River Community
– Partly Industrial
– Partly Residential
– Some Vacant Lots
– Waterways

The relationships and interactions between the physical and human, social
factors operating within the surrounding environment of the river and its
tributaries: Land Use
QC Communities Mid Stream
– Mainly Industrial
– Partly Residential
– Waterways invaded by settlers
QC Communities Upstream
– Mainly Residential
– Partly Commercial and Institutional, e.g., schools
– Waterways invaded by settlers

A ghastly river…

Bubbling and reddish water,
pinkish rocks

Reconnaissance Data
January – February 2009
LIFE IN THE RIVER BANKS

Fishing?

Fishing in Tullahan River
We met a senior citizen in a middle class
subdivision in Brgy Fairview and asked him
what they do in the river when its waters
were still clean, he said:
– “May mga mangingisda d’yan noon.
Nanghuhuli sila ng isda…”

Fishing Activities in the River
Quezon City (January 2009) Valenzuela City (February 2009)
Brgy Marulas
Photos by Chot, „09
Brgy Fairview
Photos by Chot, „09

Fish in Tullahan River
Fish found in the “Tulyahan” River in the
past
– Dalag
– Hito
– Martinico
– Palos
– Pawikan (soft shelled)

“Walang Kusina o
Kubeta”
These two women seem to
have adapted well to their
situation. In the absence of
space for bathroom and
kitchen, they are still able
to do their personal and
family concerns.
The woman on the lower
right is taking a bath in full
view of those at the other
side of the river; the
woman on the left is
fetching water from a hose
connected to a water
supply pipe somewhere.
“Buhay sa Tabing Ilog”
Brgy Potrero, Malabon City
Photo by Chot, February „09

Watercrafts
“Balsa” is a native water
vessel made out of
bamboos; it is commonly
used in rivers and other
small water bodies for
carrying people and some
goods on short distance
travels like crossing the
river. Apparently, there
are other improvised
watercrafts resembling a
“balsa” just like the blue
floater of the child shown
in this photo (inset at the
top right).
Sta Quiteria, Kal City
Feb, „09
Watercraft
Brgy Ugong, Val City
“Balsa”
Brgy Potrero, Malabon City
Photo by Chot, Feb „09
Photo by Chot, Jan „09

“Pangangalakal”
This man collects
recyclable waste from
floating debris in the river.
Children also do the same
thing in other parts of the
river.
“making a living out of a dying river”
Brgy Marulas, Valenzuela City
Photo by Chot, February 2009
“nangangalakal”
Brgy Ugong, Valenzuela City
Photo by Chot, January 2009

Livestock: Hog raising
Small scale hog raising was
observed in Brgy Marulas,
Valenzuela City and in Libis,
Kalookan City. The cages
were erected at the river
bank; presumably the manure
of these pigs go directly to the
river.

Drainage System…
If our communities were designed that our waste water
ends up in the river, should we be surprised that our solid
waste also ends up in the river?

3. Pattern of Solid Waste
Generation and Management of
Brgy Potrero

River Community of Brgy
Potrero, Malabon City
“Potrero” – Spanish, pasture or grazing
land for animals*
A sanctuary of the Katipuneros because of
its proximity to Balintawak
“Batteryas” was constructed within the
barrio to defend themselves (Katipuneros)
Farming and fishing were the means of
livelihood, including wood gathering for
fuel
Population of 45,081 (as of 2007)
[*Barangay Profile, (Data retrieved 08 January 2009) History of Barangay Potrero, Unpublished Paper]

Sources of Solid Waste
Individuals
Households/Residences
Industries, Factories and Commercial
Establishments (waste is self managed,
except for some)

Patterns of Solid Waste Generation and
Management of Potrero River Community,
Malabon City
Solid Waste Handling (SWH) Patterns*
Pattern 1: Litters/Discards and Mixed Waste
Dumped Within the Community
Pattern 2: Mixed Waste Dumped Outside the
Community
Pattern 3: Segregated Wastes/Discards
Managed Inside/Outside the Community
Pattern 4: Reduced Waste Handled at
Disposal Site/s
*[Chot Velasquez, (2008), Solid Waste Handling Patterns in Metro Manila,
Unpublished Article]

Solid Waste Handling Pattern/s
of Potrero River Community
Potrero River Community observes SWM
Patterns 1 and 2

The Waste/Discards Situation
Where would this waste
end up?

Waterways Disposal Site…
Here?

Guarded Community Waste Drop
Off Point: Macopa Street, Potrero
Or Here?
22 December 2008
29 December 2008

Solid Waste Handling Pattern 1
Litters/Discards and Mixed Waste
Dumped Within the Community
Individuals, households and establishments
generate waste, and in the absence of
efficient and systematic ecological solid
waste management program, these refuse
end up everywhere

Solid Waste Handling Pattern 2
Mixed Waste Dumped Outside the
Community
Unguarded Drop Off Point
Waste Barge, Pier 18,
Manila
Waste Collectors:
Freelance to Org
commissioned individuals,
including children
Guarded Drop Off Point
Unguarded River and
Waterways
Dump truck collects
waste at Drop Off
Points, except
those at the
waterways and the
river, and take it to
Pier 18 or to
Catmon Dumpsite

Solid Waste Management Issue/s
What about the materials recovery and
community clean up drive/activities in the
community, e.g., IBBNA‟s initiative, and
that of others? Are they not evidences of
Pattern 3 of Solid Waste Handling/
Management in the community?
IBNNA in Action:
Community Clean Up
Photo courtesy of IBBNA, Inc.

No evidence of SWH Pattern 3
Materials recovery as described in RA 9003 is
expected to start at the household (source) level
and community-wide. IBBNA’s initiative and that
of others are not segregation at source and covers
only a very small area in the community. More
so, the initiators are not aware of RA 9003, which
make it very unlikely as compliance to the law or
directly in relation to it. At best, they could be
considered environmentally related and income
generating activities, which are common across
the country and ever since. Thus, it could hardly
be considered that the community has Pattern 3 of
solid waste management.

Community Organizations
There are numerous organizations in Brgy Potrero;
some could be tapped for environmental projects as
they expressed openness/willingness to participate,
e.g., Industrial, Bignay, and Baggao Neighborhood
Association (IBBNA)

RA 9003 Implementation
RA 9003 is very poorly implemented, if not
totally neglected, in the communities of
Malabon and Valenzuela cities
– Mixed Waste
– Unsanitary Drop Off Points in Brgy Potrero
– IEC is very little to nothing
– Many are not aware of the idea of segregation

Waste Management Efforts
There are efforts towards environment
conservation
RA 9003 implementation in Quezon City
Community clean up and materials
recovery in Brgy Potrero
Some residents and organizations in the
communities express interest in implementing
waste management programs

Observations
There were no indicative signs of any felt
urgent need to reduce generation of waste
Waste management in the community
perceived as the duty of the LGU
“Not in my backyard” or outside the
“sakop” might be worth exploring further

Assessment of Environmental Condition
of the Tullahan River Communities
Environmental condition, particularly the
ecological solid waste management, of the
Tullahan river communities remains very poor
– Waste reduction very unlikely
– Waste are mixed, litters everywhere, refuse in
waterways and the river
– Waste diversion appears minimal
– Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), if any, not visible
to constituents
– LGU efforts on SWM perceived very low
– RA 9003 enforcement/implementation is very weak

Observation
A systematic solid waste mismanagement
is in practice in the river communities of
Brgy Potrero and Brgy Marulas

“Show me a dirty place
and I will show you a dirty
leader…”
(Quoted by Chairman Rolly Datiles, Brgy Bagumbuhay, Proj 4, Q.C.)