ASEANO Project Report: Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Concerning Plastic Waste Along Imus River

This study tackles the Imus River, one of the six major river systems in the province of Cavite. The main river is 38.4 kilometers long and stretches from Tagaytay City in the northern upland region, through the municipality of Silang, the cities of Dasmariñas, Imus, and Bacoor, and lastly the lowland areas of Bacoor and the municipality of Kawit, where it empties into Bacoor Bay. Within these cities/municipalities are barangays that find the river useful for domestic, tourism, and industrial purposes. DLSU-D surveyed different stakeholders (households, LGUs, and households with small businesses) in 14 selected barangays in the five cities/municipalities (Silang, Dasmariñas City, Imus City, Bacoor City, and Kawit) located along the Imus River. This study determined the stakeholders’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to plastic pollution problems including its impact, management, and their reasons for using plastic. It also assessed the economic value of the river to the community by identifying and analyzing economic benefits like employment, livelihood, goods, and services derived from the Imus River. Lastly, it determined the Ability to Pay (ATP) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) for better waste and pollution management of the selected communities dependent on the river for their day-to-day needs. Both quantitative and qualitative data were obtained for the study through surveys and interviews. Recommendations for a community-based plastic waste management program were made based on the collected data on KAP, ATP, and WTP of different stakeholders.