Act and reality of the ecological solid waste management act on barangay-level waste management in Barbaza, the Philippines

In the Philippines, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) designates solid waste management as an essential service that municipal authorities provide to maintain environmental cleanliness. However, current waste management systems are unscientific, outdated, and inefficient. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether RA 9003 effectively reaches rural and remote areas of the country. This research explored barangay-level waste management strategies in Barbaza, Antique, using a comprehensive field survey involving government data collection and interviews with barangay leaders and residents. The findings revealed that a total of 37.6 tons of waste was collected in 2024, but garbage trucks still fail to reach all remote barangays. Despite efforts like establishing materials recovery facilities and community composting campaigns, greater public engagement and education are necessary to achieve a cleaner, safer environment. This paper proposes future directions for improving waste management practices in communities based on successful strategies modeled elsewhere in Antique.