FMDS Student Papers

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https://repository.upou.edu.ph/handle/20.500.13073/52
Research outputs by graduate students of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies.

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Browsing FMDS Student Papers by Subject "Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Water in nature and society"
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    Conservation of Pinulot-Caulaman River Watershed using GIS and RUSLE-based Soil Erosion Risk Assessment in Central Luzon, Philippines
    ( 2025-03-07) Salac, Carlo P.
    Soil erosion is a serious environmental issue which can drastically impact watersheds like the case of Pinulot-Caulaman River Watershed (PCRW) in Central Luzon, Philippines. PCRW is a critical watershed for agricultural and domestic purposes covering Zambales Range and Mt. Natib to the west and lowland areas to the east. This study investigated the biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of PCRW to estimate the overall soil erosion risk and recommend conservation strategies appropriate for the watershed. The methodology involved data mining online and processing of secondary information through Geographic Information System (GIS). This was followed by applying Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to compute soil erosion and delineate risk zonation by analyzing the temporal and spatial changes in the watershed on three selected periods, i.e., 2014, 2017, and 2024. The PCRW is characteristically fragmented showing declining forest cover across complex topography with young and clay-rich soil types that received abundant rainfall, however, there were minimal conservation practices employed. Based on RUSLE, soil erosion with more than 300 tons ha-1 annually was considered very severe, particularly in steep and sparsely vegetated western areas of the watershed. In 2014, these severely eroded areas covered 20% of PCRW which increased to 28% with 11,696 hectares erosion coverage a decade after. Considering the status of the watershed, these critically erodible areas should be prioritized for restoration through the enhanced National Greening Program (NGP). Furthermore, moderate to very high erosion risk categories require conservation measures while intact forested slopes should be delineated as protected zones that will altogether form part of the watershed management plan. This study highlighted the applicability of GIS techniques and RUSLE model in providing data-driven and evidence-based decision-making tools for soil conservation. Furthermore, erosion results can be verified through ground validation to enhance the accuracy of the model in assessing the PCRW, together with future watershed assessment of erosion in other parts of the country.
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    Evaluation of the Environmental Users' Fee System Among User Firms Within the Laguna de Bay Region
    ( 2006) Santos, Roda B.
    The study attempted to evaluate the effect(s) of environmental user's fee system (EUFS) not only in the Laguna de Bay Region itself, but also among all stakeholders, particularly user firms. The user firms referred in this study are those establishments which use the environment as the recipient of their wastes in the form of water. The study attempted to establish a pulse monitor for the acceptance of the system by the user firms as a whole, and the individual polluters as well. This research also focused on EUFS' effects on the user firms' capacity to sustain their respective operations. The environmental user's fee system (EUFS) is a pilot program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Phase I of the program was implemented by LLDA in January 1997. During the launching stage of this EUFS, five (5) industrial sub-sectors were classified as critical lake polluters namely: food processing, piggeries and slaughterhouses, beverages, dyes and textile, and pulp paper. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was the only parameter that was initially covered. In the succeeding phases of implementation, additional industrial sub-sectors were included such as food chain and restaurants, cluster dwelling and others. Consequently, total suspended solids (TSS) was added as a pollution parameter. The EUF system revealed both positive and negative effects on the user firms. Positive effects included: (I) optimization of water consumption through adoption of waste minimization and recycling activities; (ii) application of best practices to improve the firms' operations; and (iii) promotion of environmental protection awareness among the polluter firms. On the other hand, the policy's negative effects were: (I) construction of wastewater treatment facilities as an added investment; (ii) profits of the small medium scale firms were reduced; and (iii) production output or sales especially among the small-scale firms was also reduced. Furthermore, the study revealed that the positive effects of implementing EUFS far outweighed the negative effects. The study also recommends that the regulatory agencies concerned should consider amending some of their policies so that the negative effects. The study also recommends that the regulatory agencies concerned should consider amending some of their policies so that the negative effects of the program to the user firms, particularly small companies, could be addressed appropriately.