Four years ago, we shared how San Fernando, Pampanga (a city in the Philippines) increased its recycling rate from 12% to 80% in just 6 years (2012-2017).
Since then, the city has managed to maintain its high diversion rates over the years, keeping a steady upward trend, overcoming the challenges they encountered along the way.
Figure 1 shows the city’s diversion rates from 2012 to 2024[1], based on data provided by the City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) of San Fernando, Pampanga.
Figure 1 – Waste Diversion Rates from 2012 to 2024 (source: data shared by CSFP CENRO)
The city’s success is largely due to the local government’s efficient enforcement and management of waste initiatives, along with the implementation of new measures to strengthen its zero-waste system. Consistency has also been a key factor. The current mayor, Vilma Caluag, and her administration have made environmental protection and sustainability a top priority.
Over the past years, the city has implemented the following waste management initiatives:
- Improvement of the Central Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and City Composting Center
- Procurement of conveyor equipment to recover high-value plastics for recycling
- Non-stop efficient operation of the Central MRF, City Composting Center, and Garbage Collection
- Partnership with a cement company to use low-value plastics as a fuel alternative. The amount of plastic waste diverted to the cement company represents approximately 1.41% of the total waste brought by the barangays to the Central MRF.
- Active participation of members of the City Solid Waste Management Board, City of San Fernando Water Resources Management Board, Manila Bay Task Force, and Parks Management Team in implementing or enforcing the city’s waste management initiatives.
- Strengthened barangay monitoring activities and enforcement operations in both barangays and business establishments
- Inventory of household septic tanks with right requirement and desludging under the Septage Management Program
- Disseminating information about the city’s waste management efforts and issues on a local TV channel
- Annual recognition and awarding of model barangays on ecological solid waste management
- Annual recognition of business establishments for their environmental initiatives and best practices
- Conducting the Refill Revolution – refilling of household products and condiments in reusable containers – twice a year
- Cascading of the Refill Revolution to barangay women’s groups as sustainable livelihood
- Continuous partnership with the Mother Earth Foundation
- Information, Education and Communication campaign through social media
- Conducting environmental activities and programs all year round, such as Zero Waste Month celebration, Earth Hour, Earth Day, Environment Month, Arbor Day, Eco Fashion, Eco Vlog and Spoken Word Competition
Nevertheless, the city faced different types of challenges along the way, such as:
- Community quarantine restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Proliferation of single-use plastics during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Wavering political will of barangay officials in implementing and enforcing environmental laws
- Lack of initiative of barangay officials in promoting strategies to reduce waste generation
While there is always room for improvement, the city remains on track in its goal to achieve and sustain a 90% diversion rate.
San Fernando, the capital city of Pampanga, in the Philippines, is home of 354,000 inhabitants, and covers an area of 6,774 hectares, and is divided into 35 villages or barangays (smallest administrative unit in the Philippines).
Waste management in the Philippines is governed by a national law called the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act 9003 (RA 9003). This law puts the prime responsibility of waste management on the barangay. It requires the barangay to implement waste segregation at source; collect and manage all biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable wastes; build necessary facilities and acquire the appropriate land and vehicles to manage wastes; and employ personnel to deliver waste services.
[1] The year for 2024 is an average based on the months from January to October