PUBLIC MARKET VENDORS' ACTIVITIES AND PERCEIVED PROBLEMS RELATED TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

The purpose of the study is to determine the activities and perceived problems related to solid waste management. It employed a descriptive survey method. The following research questions were investigated: the socio-economic profile of the vendors, the activities related to solid waste management, and the perceived problems related to solid waste management. The research participants of the study were sixty (60) vendors from Satellite Public Market of Barangay Fatima, General Santos City who answered the survey questionnaire. They were chosen through a purposive sampling method.

The result of the survey questionnaire showed that the vendors in satellite public market are senior citizens. Majority of them are fish vendors who are females and married. Most of them have a monthly net income of 5,000 pesos.

On the other hand, the perceived problems by the respondents related to solid waste management include the lack of waste collection points in some areas, irregularity of waste collection, the lack of waste collection vehicles, lack of proper maintenance of material in recovery facilities (MRF's), and cooperation. Also, the vendors are conscious about solid waste management. They participate and follow the rules and regulations of the public market particularly the adherence to the solid waste management ordinance. The respondents perceived that the solid waste management ordinance is being "moderately implemented" due to some lapses in its implementation.