Development of Multi-Criteria Assessment Tool on the Applicability of Trash Trap in Sto. Tomas Creek for Policy Improvement in Barangay Sto. Tomas, Lubao, Pampanga

Solid waste management in the Philippines, especially in urban areas, was challenged by inadequateinfrastructure and improper disposal practices, worsening the waste problem. The Ecological Solid WasteManagement Act of 2000 promoted segregation and proper disposal as a potential solution. Innovativetechnologies like Trash Traps gained global attention to combat water pollution, but their effectivenessdepended on solid policy frameworks. Plastic pollution posed significant threats to marine life,highlighting the importance of trash traps, which intercepted solid waste to improve water quality,capturing large and finer contaminants. To further assess the applicability of trash traps, the PESTLEframework was considered, encompassing political, environmental, social, legal, and economichindrances. Barangay Sto. Tomas Lubao, Pampanga, was crucial for implementing effective remediationand preventive measures. Sto. Tomas Creek, situated near the inhabitants' houses, served as a naturalabsorber of floodwater. The study aimed to assess whether technology available and applicable to otherlocations regarding trash traps could be applied to Sto. Tomas Creek. The study focused on thetechnology's applicability to a water body and provided an official assessment tool to guideimplementation decisions.The study revealed an average PESTLE score of 3.57, falling within the range of3 - 3.99, signifying sufficient evidence to support the feasibility of using new technology like trash traps inthe locale. Additionally, one-way ANOVA revealed that there is no significant difference in (MEANSCORE) since the P-value (0.436) is more significant than the level of significance (0.05), which alsomeans that researchers will not proceed to post-hoc analysis. It also showed that the critical value (1.526)is greater than F-computed (1.020). Since F < Fcrit, there is no significant difference in the scores amongthe respondents. This finding could significantly enhance government decision-making and overallperformance, indicating the applicability of trash traps in the area.