Local Government Units Research Articles

Level of Awareness on the Impact of Climate Change on the Socioeconomic Life of a Coastal Community in San Salvador Island, Masinloc, Zambales

The researcher’s interest in their well-being led her to study the level of awareness of the impact of climate change on the socioeconomic life of the coastal communities in San Salvador Island. This study is a descriptive type of research. A descriptive study gives a picture and describes the different aspects concerning a situation to obtain knowledge of nature, states, and development. This current study was conducted at San Salvador Island. It is an island barangay in Masinloc, Zambales, in northwest Luzon. It is an island barangay in Masinloc, Zambales, in northwest Luzon. A 127-hectare fish sanctuary and a nearby Taklobo or Giant Clam Farm are usual attractions to diving enthusiasts. Encourage planting mangroves in the vicinity of the island as part of the extension service of the campus. Conduct a follow-up study on fishermen’s vulnerability, resiliency, and mitigation practices. They are considered priority barangay in the Climate Change Awareness joint project of the PRMSU-Masinloc LDRRMP and CENRO-Masinloc to enhance the fishermen’s awareness and adaptation. Support from the local government unit by having a store filled with more goods and over-the-counter medicines, especially during rainy seasons. May have a routine check by a professional doctor before rainy seasons. Probable additional livelihood to augment needs, particularly during the rainy season.

Changes to tax legislation in 2023

On 24 May 2023, the Croatian Government presented changes to tax legislation affecting various forms of taxation. The key changes pertain to the introduction of a relief for calculating contributions to Pillar I of pension insurance, the abolition of surtax and autonomy of local government units (cities and municipalities) to freely define the personal income tax (PIT) rate and the increase of personal allowances in the income tax system. This Note analyses the effects of the proposed measures to the tax burden of a hypothetical employee, discusses their advantages and potential threats to autonomous definition of tax rates and suggests potential alternatives to the proposed contribution relief.

Polish Paradiplomacy. Current State and Perspectives

The article presents the results of the research conducted by the author within the framework of the National Science Centre action MINIATURA 4. This was a pilot project aiming to yield a preliminary diagnosis and suggest directions of development for the cooperation between local government units and the central government in the field of paradiplomacy. As part of the study, 11 interviews were conducted with the representatives of the milieus responsible for Polish paradiplomacy: local government officials, civil servants and experts. The results of the preliminary research indicate that approached as an instrument of foreign policy, Polish local diplomacy is experiencing a severe crisis. In order to overcome it, one should consider a model of Polish paradiplomacy that respects the interests of either side, namely the central and the local government.

Addressing the quality of higher education among the pandemic in Nueva Ecija, Philippines through the establishment of the community e-learning resource center

The Community E-learning Resource Center (CeLRC) has enabled faculty members and students to have access to the online facility at higher education institutions in collaboration with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Tech4Ed centers available in the area. It specifically targets students and faculty members who do not have access to the internet or information and communications technology (ICT) devices such as computer desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones that support online classes. This study assessed and evaluated the three newly established Community e-Learning Resource Centers in three municipalities in Nueva Ecija, San Isidro, Papaya and Penaranda. A researcher constructed questionnaire and quantitative research design are used. Results showed that the facilities found in three community e-Learning resource centers are safe, secure, functional in every aspect, highly acceptable and comfortable to use. The CeLRC staff is competent and shows a strong sense of interpersonal skills. It is recommended that the results of this study be used by the CeLRC managers to improve the services of the center to ensure its viability, efficacy and efficiency.

Caring in crisis: The experiences of local religious leaders meeting community food needs in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic

To respond to the unintended consequences of prevention measures to reduce COVID-1911List of Abbreviations: COVID-19: Coronavirus Disease 2019; ICM: International Care Ministries; LGU: Local Government Unit; NGO: Non-Governmental Organization; REDI: Rapid Emergencies and Disasters Intervention. transmission, individuals and groups, including religious leaders, have collaborated to provide care to those negatively impacted by these measures. Amid these various efforts and interventions, there is a need to deepen our understanding of diverse expressions of care across various geographical and social contexts. To address this need, the objective of this study was to investigate how religious leaders in the Philippines practiced care for their communities by meeting emergency food needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by an ethics of care theoretical orientation, we conducted 25 remote semi-structured interviews with Filipino religious leaders who partnered with a Philippines-based non-governmental organization (NGO) to mobilize essential food aid to their local communities. Through defining the efforts and activities of these religious leaders as care work, we found that religious leader experiences revolved around navigating care responsibilities, caring alongside others, and engaging holistically with the care work. Additionally, we observed how contextual factors such as the humanitarian settings where religious leaders worked, the partnership with an NGO, and the positionality of local religious leaders within their communities, fundamentally shaped the care work. This study expands our understanding of how care is practiced and experienced and also brings greater visibility to the experiences and efforts of local religious leaders in responding to humanitarian emergencies.

Quantitative impact assessment of the 2019 tropical cyclone Kammuri lahars: Mayon volcano, Philippines

Lahars (volcanic mudflows) are frequent occurrences in communities near active Philippine volcanoes due to intense and prolonged rainfall. Mayon Volcano is the most active volcano in the Philippines, ejecting pyroclastic deposits that serve as erodible materials for lahars. Damaging lahars have occurred in the past, with the more recent ones in 2006, 2015, 2019 and 2020 posing impacts such as erosion, burial, and flash flooding in low-lying areas. This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary case study on lahar impact assessment for a selected pilot community at Mayon Volcano. Lahar hazard modeling, an exposure database, and a Filipinized lahar damage state table were combined to estimate potential lahar impacts to buildings for the study area using a lahar impact assessment software tool called REDAS Quick Lahar Impact Simulation Tool (REDAS-QLIST). The tool can estimate lahar losses such as physical damage, economic loss, and total population affected including age-sex distribution. Being able to accurately quantify impact and damage is one of the added values provided by REDAS-QLIST. The damage and loss estimates produced for our case study area were tested using an actual lahar event scenario from Tropical Cyclone (TC) Kammuri in 2019. Stakeholders, especially from local government units, can utilize the methods and results presented to plan and apply adaptable and sustainable disaster risk reduction programs in their communities. Importantly, the methodology can be used with additional lahar modeling results and exposure data through the REDAS QLIST to assess hazard and loss for other volcanic regions in the Philippines.

Do fiscal rules of local debt affect municipal off-budget activities? Analysis of various types of municipalities

PurposeThis paper aims to determine whether local governments (LGs) use non-consolidated municipally owned companies (MOCs), excluded from public sector entities and, consequently, from sub-national debt to avoid fiscal debt limits. This paper contributes to the literature by analysing the fiscal debt rule’s impact on the off-budget municipal activities in total and separate in different types of local government units.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses difference-in-differences and the system general method of moments model with the Blundell–Bond estimator for dynamic panel data analysis of MOCs owned by 866 Polish municipalities in 2010–2018.FindingsThis paper shows that the MOCs’ revenues support limited local public debt capacity by indebtedness restrictions imposed on municipalities in 2014. As a result, less indebted municipalities have higher off-budget revenues. The tightening of fiscal rules related to sub-sovereign indebtedness increased off-budget activities, but that effect is much stronger in rural and rural–urban municipalities than in urban municipalities and big cities.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature by exploring the fiscal debt rule’s impact on the off-budget municipal activities in total and separate in different types of local government units. In this paper, the authors combine theories relating to private and public finance; this is a novel approach and one that is also necessary – as, in fact, the worlds of public and private actors intersect – as exemplified by the existence of MOC.

ETHICAL CLIMATE, INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR, AND WORK ENGAGEMENT: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL ON THE QUALITY OF WORK-LIFE OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

This research sought to determine the most suitable structural model for work-life quality using factors such as ethical climate, innovative work behavior, and work engagement. Four hundred local government employees from Region XI responded to a survey after being recruited through stratified sampling. The researchers used statistical methods such as mean and standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the data. The results showed that ethical climate, innovative work behavior, work engagement, and quality of work-life were all high. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between ethical climate, innovative work behavior, work engagement, and the quality of work-life. The effect of the exogenous variables on the quality of work-life was 22 to 22.6%. Additionally, the study found that work engagement was the best predictor of the quality of work-life. The study found that Model 5 was the best fit structural model for quality of work-life. The model showed that work engagement, along with its corresponding manifest variables of vigor, dedication, and absorption, were predictors of the quality of work-life. The manifest variables for the quality of work-life were adequate and fair compensation, use of capacities at work, and opportunities at work. The paper discusses these results and their implications for Human Resource Management in local government units. KEYWORDS: ethical climate, innovative work behavior, work engagement, quality of work-life, structural equation model, government employees, public administration SEM, Philippines

Quantifying ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River System using topological data analysis.

Aquatic systems worldwide can exist in multiple ecosystem states (i.e., a recurring collection of biological and chemical attributes), and effectively characterizing multidimensionality will aid protection of desirable states and guide rehabilitation. The Upper Mississippi River System is composed of a large floodplain river system spanning 2200 km and multiple federal, state, tribal and local governmental units. Multiple ecosystem states may occur within the system, and characterization of the variables that define these ecosystem states could guide river rehabilitation. We coupled a long-term (30-year) highly dimensional water quality monitoring dataset with multiple topological data analysis (TDA) techniques to classify ecosystem states, identify state variables, and detect state transitions over 30 years in the river to guide conservation. Across the entire system, TDA identified five ecosystem states. State 1 was characterized by exceptionally clear, clean, and cold-water conditions typical of winter (i.e., a clear-water state); State 2 had the greatest range of environmental conditions and contained most the data (i.e., a status-quo state); and States 3, 4, and 5 had extremely high concentrations of suspended solids (i.e., turbid states, with State 5 as the most turbid). The TDA mapped clear patterns of the ecosystem states across several riverine navigation reaches and seasons that furthered ecological understanding. State variables were identified as suspended solids, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus, which are also state variables of shallow lakes worldwide. The TDA change detection function showed short-term state transitions based on seasonality and episodic events, and provided evidence of gradual, long-term changes due to water quality improvements over three decades. These results can inform decision making and guide actions for regulatory and restoration agencies by assessing the status and trends of this important river and provide quantitative targets for state variables. The TDA change detection function may serve as a new tool for predicting the vulnerability to undesirable state transitions in this system and other ecosystems with sufficient data. Coupling ecosystem state concepts and TDA tools can be transferred to any ecosystem with large data to help classify states and understand their vulnerability to state transitions.

Tangible Cultural Properties of Abucay, Bataan, Philippines: Significance, Issues, and Conservation Measures

The rich history and culture of Abucay, Bataan is reflected in its tangible cultural properties. Hence, this study aimed to document the tangible cultural properties of Abucay, Bataan specifically its significance, issues, and conservation measures. Following participatory cultural mapping as an approach to this research, this study employs the Cultural Mapping System of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Using the Cultural Mapping Toolkit of NCCA, a semi-structured interview questionnaire, and documentary analysis, this study identified and documented nineteen movable tangible cultural properties and seven immovable tangible cultural properties. This study found that cultural properties of Abucay, Bataan are now threatened by environmental disasters, sensitivity of the materials, and a lack of training and knowledge on the proper handling of tangible cultural properties. Nonetheless, the locals are quite receptive to conserving these properties. Indeed, the study demonstrates the conventional thinking that history and culture are inextricably linked. They are strongly intertwined and may be explored concurrently using material objects, both movable and immovable. Thus, the study recommends collaboration among the local government unit, academic institutions, and private organizations in promoting Abucay, Bataan’s cultural and historical treasures. Finally, the identified tangible cultural propertiees must be included in mainstream curricula particularly in teaching Social Studies in basic education through the collaborative effort and support of the Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Municipal Government of Abucay. Keywords: Abucay; immovable; movable; tangible cultural heritage

Flexible Public Service Delivery: Views, Challenges, and Prospects of Government Workers in Times of Pandemic

The alternative work arrangements implemented in public organizations at the onset of the pandemic influenced both work and life of public servants. The current study explored the advantages of alternative work arrangements adopted by the local government units in Bataan. It also determined the organizational support of the organization to their employees for the continuous effective delivery of services during the pandemic. The study employed a quantitative descriptive study via a survey questionnaire from 200 respondents, recruited through snowball sampling, from the city/municipalities and the provincial government of Bataan. Using inferential statistics, the study analyzed how the advantages of alternative work arrangements and organizational support differ considering the sociodemographic characteristics. Moreover, the study explored the association between alternative work arrangements and organizational support. Results revealed that the alternative work arrangement was relatively advantageous to the employees and that the organization was relatively supportive of the new work setup. No significant difference was observed in the advantages of alternative work arrangements in terms of the socio-demographic profile. While there was no statistical difference in organizational support, respondents with single civil status reported receiving greater support than married ones. A positive moderate correlation was observed between the alternative work arrangements and organizational support. Results indicated that almost twenty percent of the variability in the alternative work arrangement can be explained by the variability in organizational support. The findings contribute to a better understanding of alternative work arrangements and organizational support, as well as practical recommendations for increasing the benefits to employees and maintaining productivity while enjoying work-life balance. Keywords: alternative work arrangement, remote work, organizational support

Utilization And Relevance Analysis Of Government Business Support Services In Balanga City

Government has the primary role in assisting the business sector to realize profitability and progress. Government business support services (GBSS) must provide relevant assistance to ensure the effectiveness of its programs and activities. This study analyzed the utilization and relevance of government business support services to the local business community in Balanga City. The research identified the business policies of the government as the basis for business support services and described the local government unit GBSS in the city. A mixed methodology was employed in the implementation of the research study using a sequential explanatory approach. Results of the survey yielded a composite mean of 2.81 with the descriptive equivalent ‘Aware’ for the knowledge of government business support services. For relevance, the business owners verified the composite mean 0f 3.12 with the descriptive equivalent ‘Relevant’. However, business owners emphasized the underutilization of the said services. Significant information from the study is the correlation between membership in business organizations and awareness and relevance of government business support services. Narratives of business owners described the factors affecting the utilization and relevance of government assistance to the local business community. Analysis of data indicates correlations of the given variables. The study infers that business owners who are engaged with business organizations have a high level of awareness and utilization of government business support services. Recommended intervention is to develop programs to engage business owners in government business support services. Another is to create business organizations that will assist the LGUs in reaching out to the business owners, unifying the local business community, and engaging them in Qbusiness support programs. Keywords: Government business support services, utilization of government business assistance, relevance of government business programs

Discourse on Regulation and Implementation of Labor Supervision in Indonesia

Labor supervision affects employment conditions in a country. The study was conducted on the regulation of Labor supervision in Indonesia and the form of follow-up of Labor supervision in labor regulation in Indonesia. The statute, case, and conceptual approaches normatively support problem analysis. The study showed that in realizing the protection of workers, presenting a harmonious employment relationship did not materialize due to disparities until the transition of the Labor Supervision Authority between local government units and the central government, which became the discourse of labor so that the purpose of Labor supervision is not fully realized. The problem is increasingly complex with the birth of a substantively problematic job creation Perppu, the lack of labor inspectors with a wide area of work and workload technically tiered, labor conditions in emergencies, as well as the massive flow of foreign workers to Indonesia can be solved with the renewal of labor which includes fundamental changes certainly made to the substance of, changes in labor supervision mechanisms that emphasize more on factual supervision by going directly to places or areas that have labor problems, regulation of the form of Labor supervision in the work area and workload and certain emergency conditions, as well as the active involvement of unions in the labor supervision process.

Regionalization Based on Socio-Economic Development Indicators in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Example of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract This study classifies local self-government units (local communities) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH) according to socio-economic characteristics by applying the following multivariate methods: principal component analysis (PCA), regression and cluster analysis. The selection of variables was based on literature and adjusted by FBIH specifics, covering the four hypothetical dimensions of regional differentiation: macroeconomic, demographic, infrastructural and socio-cultural indicators. PCA has identified five components: the productivity component, demographic component, component of economic activity potential, spatial component and employment component. Further analysis showed that all identified factors are significant predictors of local communities’ development, measured by the development index. The cluster analysis resulted with four clusters in the FBIH with significant differences in development level. Considering that FBIH municipalities are administrative units of local government and that the classification is based on socio-economic dimensions, identified clusters correspond to the NUTS principles.

COVID-19 and aid distribution in the Philippines: a patron-clientelist explanation

Republic Act (RA) 11469, also known as ‘The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act’, and RA 11494 the ‘Bayanihan to Recover as One Act’, or Bayanihan 2, were passed into law in the Philippines as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. RA 11469 and RA 11494 were fundamentally flawed because they relied on data from Listahanan, the National Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). These data gave only partial coverage of those affected by the pandemic and was largely reliant on data gathered in 2009. To plug the gaps data beneficiary identification was devolved to Local Government Units (LGUs) and local government officials. We examine how a lack of state capacity and the technical weaknesses of RAs 11469 and 11494 were capitalised on by an underlying culture of patron-clientelism. This undermined the distribution of relief aid, or ‘ayuda’ to urban poor communities in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. We also identify instances where strategies were devised to circumnavigate such political failings, which offer hope for future good practice. We argue that robust data and enhanced state capacity are essential for the distribution of future relief aid in the Philippines as a means of promoting social equity and limiting political discretion.

Knowledge Management, Organizational Innovativeness, and Adversity Quotient on Institutional Performance of Local Economic Enterprises

This study attempted to assess the influence of knowledge management, organizational innovativeness, and adversity quotients manifested through the institutional performance. There are 221 local economic enterprise employees of the local government units in Bukidnon participated in the study, which employed a quantitative descriptive design, to evaluate the relationship between two or more variables as well as the multiple regression analysis in determining variables that predict institutional performance. Findings revealed that knowledge management, organizational innovativeness, and adversity quotient are predictors, positively correlated and have a statistically significant relationship to institutional performance. The overall predictive model is presented as follows; Institutional performance = 1.123 + 0.189*Ownership. The overall model tested was highly significant with F = 3.654, p=.000. The regression model further discloses that for every unit change in ownership, there is a corresponding increase by .189 of the institutional performance. Based on this result, the null hypothesis is rejected. The independent variable, taken as a whole, can predict the institutional performance of the local economic enterprise employees. The data implies that the higher level of ownership in adverse situations of the local economic enterprise employees, the more they have performed well in their institutional performance. Therefore, one of the practical implications of this result in the management of organizational innovation processes is that to manage the innovation process effectively, owners and, or managers need to understand knowledge management and innovativeness factors that affect different innovation types in their institutional performance.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS’ (LGUs) SERVICES LINK TO GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS’ (GFIs) ONLINE AND CUSTOMER TOUCHPOINTS IN SELECTED MUNICIPALITIES OF FOURTH DISTRICT OF LAGUNA PROVINCE: FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

This study aimed to compare service quality and challenges faced by Local Government Units (LGUs) linked with Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and those that are not. One hundred seventy-nine (179) LGU employees from the Fourth District of Laguna Province, were surveyed via purposive sampling. Results showed that out of the 14 municipalities included, five had linked up with LANDBANK, a GFI, while the remaining nine still needed to start linking up with GFIs, representing 64.29% of the total municipalities. The studys results found that the lack of funding for ICT infrastructure, absence of an IT officer, poor internet connectivity, and lack of knowledge in digitalization were significant challenges encountered in implementing e-payment touchpoints. The study also found that the linked LGUs scored significantly higher in the efficiency of services, fiscal benefits, process improvement, and business-friendliness than non-linked LGUs, suggesting that linking up with GFIs positively impacts service quality perceptions. The study provides insights for the GFIs sector and LGUs in improving their e-payment services and overall service quality. KEYWORDS: Government Financial Institutions, Digital Transformation, Local Government Units, Online Touchpoints, Service Quality

A decision support system for the optimal allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and integer programming (IP) model

IntroductionIn the Philippines, scheduling the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been a challenging task. The local government units (LGUs) have to carefully work with limited resources to avoid underutilizing vaccines while considering prioritization schemes in the rollout. As the country continues to vaccinate its population to manage the spread of COVID-19, planning the prioritization of individuals becomes more apparent in the vaccination rollout with respect to the COVID-19 situation in their respective areas.MethodsOur study develops a location-allocation model that aims to optimally schedule the COVID-19 vaccine rollout of a municipality. Here we applied the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to determine the prioritization of communities (i.e., barangays) in the vaccine rollout based on the number of COVID-19 cases, the population density, and the proximity of the community to the available vaccine sites. Consequently, an integer programming (IP) model was formulated to determine the assignment of individuals to the vaccine stations with respect to the prioritization of their community in the rollout, as well as the minimum number of vaccine stations to open.Results and discussionThe AHP-based IP model proposed in this study not only assigns individuals to vaccination centers, but is also capable of tailoring the vaccine rollout to prioritize individuals depending on the preferences of the LGUs, and the COVID-19 situation in their areas. Furthermore, the vaccine rollout framework in this work is applicable to other vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., rabies, measles, etc.) should LGUs embark on adapting this approach.

Exploring the Experiences of Parents as Facilitators of Learning in the New Normal in the Philippines

Aims: To explore and understand the experiences of parents as facilitators of learning to their school-aged children during the ‘new normal.
 Study Design: Qualitative-Phenomenology.
 Place and Duration of Study: Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines, during the School Year 2021-2022.
 Methodology: The study used purposive sampling in choosing the participants. The target participants were parents who had school-age children. Fifteen parents who gave their consent to participate were included in the study. The information was obtained through validated semi-structured interview questionnaires.
 Results: Most of the participants were female, aged 36-40, college graduates, and either housewives or teaching jobs. Five themes emerged. Themes for the challenges were difficulty in balancing time and responsibilities, lack of knowledge of the lessons, difficulty in imposing discipline on their children, physical and health concerns, and slow internet connectivity. On the other hand, four themes emerged for the strategies used by parents as facilitators: proper time management, use of the Internet for research, use of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, and close supervision of children’s performance.
 Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic did not spare anyone. Its emergence brings new challenges and responsibilities, particularly for parents with school-aged children. The parents’ concerns are family health and how they could help their children with their studies. These instances highlight the parents to adjust to the new and unexpected role in the new normal. Parents thought of solutions not only for their daily living but also for their children's education demands. The situations may be unpleasant and tiring, but parents, as they are, they show perseverance and patience. Parents' techniques may be better, but they are adequate for their problems. During these challenging times, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Local Government Units (LGU), and the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) may investigate the circumstances of parents with school-aged children and develop alternative programs which could address the educational needs of the parents.

Microplastic occurrence in rural and urban surface waters: the cases of Lake Sampaloc and Lake Yambo in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines

The widespread microplastic occurrence has invaded both marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, most studies are focused on marine microplastics and there is still insufficient knowledge and understanding of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems like small lakes. Known as one of the largest contributors of plastics to the aquatic environment, the Philippines has begun ventures on studying microplastic pollution, although, still, there are no accurate figures on the extent of the microplastic problem in the country, especially in its freshwater environment. In this study, a comparative assessment of microplastic concentration and characterization between Lake Yambo, an ecotourism and rural lake, and Lake Sampaloc, an aquaculture and urbanized lake, in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines was conducted through microplastic isolation and optical examination. Results revealed that the average microplastic concentration in Lake Sampaloc and Lake Yambo ranges from 483 to 989 n/m3 and 344 to 789 n/m3, respectively. Generally, the sampling sites in Lake Sampaloc had a higher mean concentration of microplastics than those in Lake Yambo. The key features of the microplastics detected in the surface waters of the studied lakes are fibrous, colored, and small-sized (<2 mm). In addition to proving the assumption that there are more microplastics observed in a highly-populated or urbanized freshwater ecosystem like Lake Sampaloc, this study also contributed to the meager evidence that microplastics are present even around scarcely-populated lakes like Lake Yambo. The outcome of this study is relevant for the local government unit (LGU) of San Pablo to make sustainable environmental policies regarding plastic waste management and disposal.