Determinants Of Livestock Waste Management And Willingness To Act For Improved Practices Among Livestock Raisers In Busuanga Island, Palawan

Abstract

PALAY, EDUARD PANTINOPLE. Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management. Faculty of Management and Development Studies. University of the Philippines Open University. May 2021. Determinants of Livestock Waste Management and Willingness to Act for Improved Practices among Livestock Raisers in Busuanga Island, Palawan. Special Problem Adviser: Dr. Ramiro F. Plopino Livestock raising, despite being one of the livelihoods in Busuanga Island which continues to be a viable venture due to the increasing demand for food and other meat products, possesses a threat to the environment brought by animal waste, among others. This study evaluated the farm characteristics and the socio-demographic profiles of the selected fifty (50) livestock raisers; 25 in Busuanga and 25 in Coron, and subsequently assessed its impact on their willingness to act positively for infrastructure and facilities in connection with waste management, wilingness to accept compensation for the animal waste, and account their behavior and values towards the animal waste recycling. In the study, livestock animals such as carabao, goat, catle, ducks, geese, turkeys, swine and chicken are being raised. The findings manifested that the respondents' wilingness to contribute for the facilities such as road infrastructure, mobile network services, market accessibility, waste facilities and cooperative membership are al correlated with the socio-demographics which encourages the membership of the farmers in social groups, and interestingly, sex has the highest correlation on their WTP for improved market accessibility. As to their AWR behavior and values, and wilingness to produce biogas, designation, sex, civil status, educational attainment and household size have been recorded to have a correlation on their decisions. Animal waste facilities are absent in some livestock farms although all the farmer-participants have the knowledge, regardless of level, on animal waste management. Lastly, animal waste regulation is strictly implemented in the areas nearby barangay centers, livestock farmers are open to incurring payment for improved services such as road, water, market access, and waste management facilities, and cooperative membership affected their decision as to whether contribute or unite to seek government support. The results of this study can be valuable for the local government in feasibly improving basic social services particularly in crafting policies in relation to livestock waste management.