Application of environmental users' fee system to households for enhanced water pollution control in Laguna de Bay, Philippines

Rico C. Ancog

Date

2006

Abstract

The instituted Environmental Users Fee System (EUFS) of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has been assessed with problems and limitations as water pollution in Laguna de Bay continued to persist. Thus, one of the identified enhancement measures is the necessary inclusion of the household sector which was accounted by recent studies to about 70 percent of BOD loading of the lake. The willingness to pay (WTP) of the households from both the lakeshore and inland municipalities of Laguna de Bay region for the improvement of the the lake's water quality were assessed. Using contigent valuation methodology (CVM), a total of 1643 households from eight municipalities (Angono, Baras, Binan, Carmona, Pakil, Los Banos, Lucban, Sto. Tomas) and two cities (Sta. Rosa City and Taguig City) were assessed. In addition, households' awareness, perception of and attitude towards Laguna de Bay were also studies in relation to its condition, uses and other related environmental issues and problems. About 31percent of the respondents were unaware that their barangays belong to the Laguna de Bay watershed region. Majority of the respondents (70percent) disposed their wastewater directly into the canals that would eventually drains into the lake. Also, about 63percent of the respondents percieved the lake as being polluted and 88 percent of them believed that househld sector is the major contributor to its pollution in confirmation to prior studies. About 70 percent of the respondents were willing to of about 46.43 pesos/household/month for the construction of the treatment facility as an indicator of their means of contributing to the improvement of the lake's water quality. Households' total monthly income and educational attainment had significant positive correlation with WTP values but age of respondents was negatively correlated. It was observed that respondents from lakeshore and inland municipalities were supportive to the application of Environmental Users' Fee System as a means of enhancing water pollution control of the lake. Thus, their contribution and participation for the establishment of the Wastewater Treatment Facility that would hopefully improve the lake's water quality could be expected.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 2006 E8 A52

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