Impact Assessment of the Extension Service Project: A Foundation for Formulating Coastal Solid Waste Management Strategies and Plans

The College of Maritime Education implemented community extension services with the Brgy. Ransohan has been in Lucena City for more than ten years already. Local community authorities and residents are engaged, inspired, and empowered to adopt more sustainable behaviors and efficient resource management geared towards a protected coastal environment. Statutory and regulatory requirements, lack of assessment, and observed inconsistencies in implementation inspired researchers to develop coastal solid waste management strategies and plans aligned with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. The gathered data were analyzed with the applied science of sustainability. The study included participatory community resource charting and life cycle impact assessment through complementary methodologies of participatory resource mapping, semi-structured and questionnaire-based interviews, field assessment, and literature reviews about waste prevention, minimization, recycling and reuse strategies, observed changes and extent of achievements on ecological, economic, and socio-cultural aspects steered development of innovated, inclusive, and comprehensive coastal solid waste management strategies and plans. Eased coastal waste management is undeniably observed as well as social sustainability. Nevertheless, economic and environmental sustainability are not absolutely decided. Opportunities for improvement such as use of biological treatment; conception of income generating or livelihood projects using wastes for circular economy advancement and use of renewable energy; development of products or systems for more efficient energy usage; continuance of regular coastal clean-up; stricter, proper and consistent wastes segregation, recycling, composting, reduction of single use plastics beginning from household levels for continued biodiversity protection; continued collaboration and cooperation, training and education of various sectors of community; and continuance of CME CES in Brgy. Ransohan is suggested.