(ISWMP) and Allotment Garden in the Barangay Gusa (PDF 1.20MB

14The ISWMP in the context of the L-EPM also improved the relationshipsbetween the LGU and the community. Communication was provided avenuethrough the BEHB and the community organizers who represent the barangaycouncil. Information drives as part of their IEC allowed the council a more handsonapproach to their community. The project also created linkages between andamong the barangay council, the government and non government agencies aswell as the business sector.GUSA KABULAKAN FESTIVAL FAIRYOver the past years since the ISWMPofficial implementation, the project coregroup learned the value of selfsufficiency. As was the BSSPD motto,“Kung dili karun kanus-a man? Kungdili kita kinsa man?”(If not now, when?If not us, who?) It was this urge toimprove the larger community’s qualityof life that followed them through theirgoals despite the problemsencountered. They relied on their owninitiatives in overcoming challenges.Moreover, a key activity that realized segregation at source was theclustering of households per purok. Each cluster of 25 households are organizedwith its own set of officers. Implementing the policies and pursuing theordinances were made certain even in a large barangay as Gusa because clusterofficers managed their immediate vicinity.On hindsight, a similar project on solid waste management was provenbeneficial and lucrative in the past. With reference to barangay Linamon’s BasuraAtras Linamon Abante sa Kalamboan (BALAK) project, it was standard in termsof 1.) teamwork LGU officials, barangay officials, and employees, 2.) strongpolitical will of the municipal mayor, and 3.)IEC or project advocacy. Similarly, theGusa ISWMP showed excellence in the aspects of leadership, teamwork, andinformation dissemination-all of which are highly recommended values forreplication.Summarily, the ISWMP of Gusa is exemplary in their effective use of theIEC to earn the community’s approval and support of the project. The success oftheir MRF and allotment garden is also largely attributed to the firmimplementation of their policies regarding segregation and collection. Only withthe community’s appreciation of the advantages of these policies and theirunderstanding of the project goals and its implications on environment and livingconditions can the project be implemented properly.