WASTEWATER DISPOSAL PRACTICES OF HOUSEHOLDS IN TORIL DISTRICT UNSERVED BY DAVAO CITY WATER DISTRICT: A STUDY FOR INTERVENTION

Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [563] WASTEWATER DISPOSAL PRACTICES OF HOUSEHOLDS IN TORIL DISTRICT UNSERVED BY DAVAO CITY WATER DISTRICT: A STUDY FOR INTERVENTION Cherrelyn P. Campaña Professor, College of Development Management, University of Southeastern Philippines, Philippines Daniel J. Mediante Graduate Student, College of Development Management Graduate Program, University of Southeastern Philippines, Mintal Campus, Davao City ABSTRACT This research sought to investigate the practices on wastewater disposal of the unserved areas in Toril District, Davao City, of the Davao City Water District (DCWD)-served areas in Davao City at the grassroots level, and translate the outcomes to arrive at an intervention framework. This study used a cross-sectional and nonexperimental quantitative research design, making use of exploratory factor analysis and a structured 30-item questionnaire using the Likert scale. The structured questionnaire was used to gather information from 150 eligible participants representing various eligible households (the adult counterpart residing in the DCWD unserved areas for at least six months). The reliability test revealed that the internal consistency for the items was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = 0.702; McDonald's Omega = 0.204). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure for sampling adequacy (.693) and the Sig. for the Bartlett test of sphericity (1019.132; p < .001) supported the suitability for factorability and hence extraction of the components. Principal component extraction and Varimax rotation were used to enable the retention of five components that were understandable and explained 41.613% of the total variance. The components that were extracted were as follows: LGU Support and Action; Household Awareness and Compliance; Service Clarity and Affordability; Discipline and Community Support; and Vigilance and Trust. This shows that the practice of disposing of wastewater in the DCWD unserved areas is influenced by interwoven aspects of governability, visibility, and serviceability, and the lack of confidentiality and casino trust. An intervention guide and framework for actions were therefore developed. Keywords: Wastewater Disposal, DCWD-unserved households, Toril District, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Sanitation Behavior, Intervention Framework INTRODUCTION Domestic wastewater is also an ongoing concern relating to the environment and public health, especially if there is a gap within the sanitation chain, from storage and emptying, transportation, treatment, and disposal (Mara, Brown, & Lopez, 2010; Peal, Mara, & Karaivanov, 2014; World Health Organization & United Nations Children's Fund [WHO & UNICEF], 2023). Given the scenario of unserved/underserved communities, many domestic units depend on self-contained facilities that differ according to technical standards achieved, intervals of maintenance, and safe discharge transport. Failure to desludge the septic tanks and the practice of discharging greywater into open drains become hazardous that manifest within, beyond, and around the domestic unit, through the rapid linkage of transformers of these drains (Prüss-Ustün et al., 2019; WHO & UNICEF, 2023). In the Philippine setting, sanitation and wastewater governance are framed by environmental and public health frameworks, including the Clean Water Act and related health guidance. Current literature reports, specifically for Davao City, have noted the presence of domestic wastewater as a contributing factor to the state of the waterways, including drainage, particularly in areas where the population is sparser but where the interaction between waterways and stormwater runoff is most pronounced, particularly for areas with high rainfall.. While the City and DCWD are developing septage management and related planning instruments, communities outside routine service arrangements can continue to manage wastewater characterized by limited access to clear service Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [564] pathways, variable affordability, and limited information. This gap underlines the need for unserved contexts to have behaviorand governance-sensitive interventions, not only infrastructure-oriented strategies. For the Philippine setting, sanitation and wastewater are addressed according to the country's public health guidance and regulation on the environment through the Clean Water Act (as per Department of Health, 2008; Republic Act No. 9275). Concerning local development and the community's understanding on the issue at the local setting, there have been reports and studies that have consistently identified the effect of domestic wastewater on water courses and drainage throughout the country, especially as the potential threat is identified to tend to escalate with higher population densities and the developments associated with the downstream population (EMB-XI, 2024; Walag, 2018). Regarding the Davao City context, local initiatives and plans focus on the responsibility to upgrade the sanitation sector and mitigate the effect on water quality through the intervention and action at the governance level (City Government of Davao, 2025; Davao City Water District, 2025a & b). This research fills that gap by examining the profile of wastewater discharge behavior in DCWD unserved areas in Toril District, using exploratory structure identification to find the underlying factors influencing these behaviors, and using the discovered structure to identify directions for implementing improvements in local wastewater discharge. Statement of the Problem The study will help us determine the behaviors of the DCWD unserved households in relation to wastewater disposal. In addition to that, this study will help us know the proper solutions to effectively lessen the impact of those practices on the environment. The study will help us figure out what these contributors are to their behaviors and properly use the insights for better solutions and interventions. It particularly aims to investigate answers to these questions: 1. What really shapes (factors) the behavior of the DCWD-unserved households towards wastewater disposal? 2. What system/framework can be developed in order to improve wastewater disposal practices? 3. What interventions and supports will help DCWD-unserved households address the improper wastewater disposal?? Significance of the Study The following are the intended beneficiaries of the study, to wit: 1. Davao City Water District (DCWD). This study will provide a clearer picture to better understand how households that are not within DCWD services dispose of their wastewater. Knowing the factors influencing their action will help DCWD build helpful programs aligned with its community constraints. This will also help DCWD in achieving its mandates under national and international law. 2. Local Government Units (LGUs) and Barangay Officials. The research will support the public officials to provide meaningful policies and plans in handling wastewater effectively within their area of responsibility. Understanding the factors influencing how people within their community practice unsafe wastewater disposal will help them realize that there are still areas for improvement, especially in protecting the environment and its people. 3. Residents and Communities unserved by DCWD. For households unserved by DCWD and will not be a direct beneficiary of the SMP, this study will help them realize that their current practice will not benefit the environment and them subsequently. This study will help them look for other alternatives within their community to take a different approach in order to lessen the impact of their current practices, knowing that they will not benefit directly from any sanitation services. This study will enlighten them that even their small, improper practice can still affect the environment in the long run and will force them to change their ways by looking at the factors where they can adjust and initiate, rather than waiting for the public officials to do everything for them. 4. Urban and Environmental Planners. Results from this study can offer guidance and relevant information to the planners while they integrate the proper wastewater treatment system in a specific area. The planners can better position themselves by putting sanitation as a central factor for public health and environmental protection. This might involve integrating proper sanitation concepts into town development, fostering robust environments where people flourish. Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [565] 5. Future Researchers. The data derived from this study can help future researchers to develop more focused and locally specific programs and policies. The study can provide the initial data that will serve as a starting point so that they will not be back to square one. This will also help them focus on more aspects of the study, such as exploring specific communities that could employ specific techniques to understand local practices. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Domestic wastewater in Davao City and the unserved setting Domestic wastewater remains a persistent environmental and public health concern when sanitation systems are incomplete across the service chain, from containment and emptying to transport, treatment, and safe disposal (Mara et al., 2010; Peal et al., 2014; World Health Organization & United Nations Children's Fund [WHO & UNICEF], 2023). In many unserved or underserved settlements, households depend on self-managed on-site arrangements that vary in technical adequacy, maintenance regularity, and safety of discharge routes. When septic tanks are not desludged on time or when greywater is routinely released into open drains, risks extend beyond the household and become neighborhood and watershed problems because wastewater pathways connect quickly to communal drainage corridors and receiving waters (Prüss-Ustün et al., 2019; WHO & UNICEF, 2023). In the Philippine setting, sanitation and wastewater governance are framed by environmental and public health frameworks, including the Clean Water Act and related health guidance. Current literature reports, specifically for Davao City, have noted the presence of domestic wastewater as a contributing factor to the state of the waterways, including drainage, particularly in areas where the population is sparser but where the interaction between waterways and stormwater runoff is most pronounced, particularly for areas with high rainfall.. While the City and DCWD are developing septage management and related planning instruments, communities outside routine service arrangements can continue to manage wastewater characterized by limited access to clear service pathways, variable affordability, and limited information. This gap underlines the need for unserved contexts to have behaviorand governance-sensitive interventions, not only infrastructure-oriented strategies. Household awareness and compliance as a behavior pathway Although awareness and compliance are normally considered important drivers of behavior change, they are sporadically translated into a performance routine under scenarios where routines are constrained through time, cost, space, and a perception of a lack of credible enforcement/support. Awareness may exist that DHS, for instance, exudes improper behavior, yet such a behavior is undertaken since a better, safer, and sounder option does not feel credible, confusing, and costly, especially where there are no foreseeable services available. It becomes evident that "compliance" can actually be more than just knowledge for behavior changes to happen. Behavior theories help explain why awareness sometimes fails to produce routine compliance. The Health Behavior theories assist to understand why sometimes awareness is ineffective for routine compliance. The Health Belief Model stresses the central role of both perceived susceptibility and perceived severity concerning preventive actions, but also, and crucially, of both perceiving barriers and perceiving benefits. These are seen to have a powerful inhibiting effect on sanitation practices presented with concerns about service availability and affordability. The role of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceiving behavioral control in determining behaviors is also elucidated by the Theory of Planned Behaviors, which would suggest improved routine compliance once there is also a belief in safe disposal as what is expected by peers and possible within their own community. Norm-activation and value-belief-norm theories show an amoral role for personal standards in amplifying proenvironmental behaviors, but again, only when there is a supportive context and community standards defining suitable behaviors. Awareness is thus given effect when coupled with routine-supported behaviors reflecting perceptions of behavioral control and community standards. Service Clarity and Affordability in the Sanitation Chain Service clarity and affordability represent tangible factors that have been recognized for their importance in encouraging participation in sanitation services again and again; this is because community willingness may depend on the service chain being well understood and trusted. Additionally, when the community is not serviced, factors such as variability in the desludging schedules, variability in treatment destinations, and variability regarding costs may exist in a way that discourages desludging and disposal. It is likely that a household that is not clear on what happens to their refuse after collection may have weakened compliance regarding a service that may be considered unreliable or expensive. Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [566] Empirical and conceptual work on sanitation demand emphasizes the fact that for adoption to take place, and to be sustained, convenience, reliability, and affordability are more important than risk awareness alone.Diffusion and adoption approaches further highlight that practices are adopted as a visible benefit can be gained from adoption, if adoption is compatible with lifestyle, and if adoption does not seem excessively complicated. In other words, safe disposal avenues will be followed if the instructions are clear, templates are predictable, costs are transparent, and payment structures are compatible with household funds. Clarity and affordability in particular can make barriers easier to overcome, improve perceived control over behavior, and make safe action easier to repeat, thus improving the chances of new behaviors being sustained rather than adopted once and discarded. Discipline and Collective Support as Community Mechanisms Family discipline is concerned with those microscopic actions to which risk aversion is connected in sanitation, such as proper disposal of kitchen refuse, draining, septic tanks, and avoiding direct dumping where there are other pathways. At a macro level, relevance is connected to the fact that sanctions in sanitation are often because of the aggregate effect of minute actions, such as putting off maintenance, slow draining, overflows during heavy rainfall, and routine dumping into sewers. In unattended areas, discipline will become hedge actions, but may be quite difficult to maintain, especially when the concerned families are coping with space, time, and unavailability of quality services. The use of collective support mechanisms is necessary and relevant because there are some externalities involved with sanitation challenges. The sanitation challenges presented by some households impact other neighboring households. The impact occurs because they share a common drainage system, they smell, they are conducive grounds for vectors, and they are also conducive grounds for environmental contamination. According to the collective action theory, there are strategies involved to make cooperation efficient. These strategies follow two main contexts: reducing the cost of coordination and providing rules and mechanisms for controlling free-riding. In areas not yet served, reducing individual cost and free-riding are facilitated using individual and collective decision mechanisms. LGU Support and Action as Enabling Governance Local government action shapes sanitation behavior by determining whether households experience governance as visible, predictable, and supportive. Viewed institutionally, rules, incentives, enforcement credibility, and arrangements that reduce uncertainty and transaction costs are shaping factors for household choice (North, 1990). In unserved contexts, households often act without routine utility guidance, so the visibility of LGUs becomes key to establishing what is expected and what is achievable. When barangays provide clear information, credible monitoring, and practical support, households may view safe practices as achievable rather than optional or symbolic. Implementation research further indicates that policy outcomes are contingent on how governance is conducted in everyday practice, particularly by street-level officials who translate general rules into practical actions and discretionary decisions (Lipsky, 1980). When people feel that there is a delayed response or confusing procedure and irregular enforcement on the part of the government or LGUs, this will make residents perceive sanitation regulations as a mere signal, which decreases their intention to comply with regulations. However, as Pressman and Wildavsky stated in "Implementation as Handmaid to Policy Analysis," these officials can maintain a consistent follow-through mechanism via proper referral systems and enforcement action that will make households perceive governance as legitimate and something that is worth supporting. Thus, "LGU enabling" acts as a force that manifests not only as "authority" as a facilitative environment that reinforces community sanitation practices. Vigilance and Trust, Risk Cues, and Verification Vigilance and trust influence whether households continue safe practices when costs and inconvenience are involved. In the context of sanitation settings, vigilance involves observing risk cues-such as odor, discoloration, overflow, or murky drainage water-and responding to them through reporting, checks, or changes in practices. For their part, households will trust that reporting produces action or results and that wastewater is handled correctly beyond containment in the household. Households that do not trust the system-or cannot verify that waste reaches safe endpoints-may disengage, in particular, if compliance requires money, time, or social effort. It is evident in the literature on risk and protective measures that behavior can be influenced by the perceived credibility of information, the availability of communications channels, and trust in the capability of institutions to respond appropriately (Lindell & Perry, 2012). Trust in the provision of sanitation services can also be established by having visible channels that lead to provision because it gives a sense that household compliance Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [567] has benefits rather than simply going somewhere else. Vigilance and trust can therefore be considered as stabilizing factors that retain households on the path through feedback and credible response systems that remove suspicions of reverting to convenient practices that are harmful. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional, non-experimental design was employed, making use of Exploratory Factor Analysis to uncover the underlying factors on the disposal of domestic wastewater as extracted by a pre-prepared questionnaire. The scope of the research shall cover households within Toril District, Davao City, which were not served by DCWD. The respondents were adult household representatives aged 18 years and above who had stayed in the area for at least six months and who did not have an active household connection with DCWD during the data-gathering period. This paper used a purposive sampling technique in identifying households that are eligible to self-manage wastewater systems. A total of 150 responded to the final survey. Data collection was done through the use of a structured 30-item questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). The items were developed in an informed way from the literature domains summarized in the RRL, which are local governance support, household awareness and compliance routines, service clarity and affordability, collective support mechanisms, and vigilance and trust cues. Informed consent on the study's purpose, confidentiality, and voluntariness of participation was secured from the eligible respondents after permission had been granted. The surveys were then administered to household representatives in identified DCWD-unserved areas in Toril District. Data encoding and preparation of the responses for statistical analysis were then performed. Reliability was calculated by Cronbach alpha and McDonald’s omega, with omega as an additional reliability coefficient. Sampling adequacy and factorability tests were carried out by Kaiser-Meyer Olkin values and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity. Factors were extracted and then subjected to varimax rotation in an attempt to improve interpretation. All calculations were conducted using IBM’s SPSS Statistics software. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The current section showcases the findings of the factor analysis conducted on the 30-item wastewater disposal practices survey. The need to test the reliability of the survey tool was considered important before doing the factor analysis, and testing was conducted to show that the research tool is reliable enough during this type of exploratory research. The Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test was conducted, alongside the Bartlett Test of Sphericity, which was used to test the suitability of the sample. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega Table 1 shows the results of the reliability and factorability tests conducted to establish whether the instrument and data were appropriate for use in extracting the exploratory structure. The instrument was found to have internal consistency appropriate for use in exploratory community research, with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.702 and a McDonald’s omega value of 0.704, which indicates that it has a degree of internal consistency appropriate for use as an initial exploratory instrument. Scale Reliability Statistics Cronbach's α McDonald's ω Scale 0.702 0.704 Table 1: Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω KMO and Bartlett's Test Table 2 details other statistics calculated, specifically the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity, both of which are measures used in validating the adequacy of the sample and the patterned correlation among the variables. The value of the KMO index was 0.692, indicating that it was in the acceptable range for factor analysis, meaning that the correlation was sufficiently agglomerated for extraction. Moreover, the significance test, known as Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity, was significant, with Chi-Square Approx. 1019.132, df= 435, and p < .001, thus rejecting the null hypothesis that the correlation matrix was an identity matrix. These findings collectively suggest that there was enough communal variance and patterned correlation in the dataset, Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [568] warranting the appropriateness of factor analysis in uncovering the underlying dimensions of the wastewater disposal practices in the unserved households in Toril District of the DCWD. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy. 0.692 Bartlett's Test of Sphericity Approx. Chi-Square 1019.132 df 435 Sig. 0.000 Table 2. KMO and Bartlett’s Test Scree Plot Figure 1 below is the scree plot for the analysis, which groups the eigenvalue values for the 30 items used in the analysis. The scree plot indicates the degree of eigenvalue drop-off per component, starting from the first component down to the thirtieth component. It clearly indicates where the common variation has a steeper dropoff, which will require fewer factors. This clearly indicates the point where the factors begin flattening out, forming the “elbow” point where the common variation declines slowly. Based on the results and the objective to serve the goal of the analysis by making it more interpretable, the best or ideal number of factors or components for the analysis will include five components or factors (k=5), which represents the ideal or best interpretation of the underlying factors or themes existing within the practices on disposing wastewater by the unserved households of the DCWD-Toril District. Analysis of Variance Percentage The other factors also made significant contributions to the major entity as a whole. Component 4 had an eigenvalue of 1.806, explaining 6.020%, which summed to 36.368%, while Component 5 had an eigenvalue of 1.574, explaining 5.245%. In totality, these five factors accounted for a cumulative percentage of 41.613% of all factors considered. It can thus be ascertained that the initial two factors had accounted for considerably larger portions of common variance, and factors 3 to 5 ensured added meaning necessary for a holistic view of the factors embodied in wastewater disposal behavior exhibited by DCWD unserved households of Toril District. Analysis of Variance Percentage Table 3 above shows the total variance explained using principal component analysis, including both eigenvalues and sums of squared loadings for extracting retained components. From Table 3, it can be seen that five components were extracted, with eigenvalues greater than 1.00. The first component, Component 1, had an eigenvalue of 3.759 and explained 12.530% of the total variance. The next component, Component 2, with an eigenvalue of 3.405, explained an additional 11.350% of total variance, contributing 23.880% to total variance explanation. The third component, Component 3, with eigenvalue 1.940, explained 6.467%, contributing 30.347% to the total variance explanation. Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [569] The other components contributed significantly at this juncture. Component 4 had an eigenvalue of 1.806, contributed 6.020%, and had a cumulative variance of 36.368%, while Component 5 had an eigenvalue of 1.574 and explained 5.245%. In total, the five components explained a cumulative variance of 41.613%. This shows that the first two components explained the dominant portion of the common variance, while Components 3 through 5 contributed explanatory power to adequately describe the dimensions inherent in the practices of wastewater discharge in the context of DCWD-unserved households in Toril District. Initial Eigenvalues Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings Component Total % of Variance Cumulative % Total % of Variance Cumulative % 1 3.759 12.530 12.530 3.759 12.530 12.530 2 3.405 11.350 23.880 3.405 11.350 23.880 3 1.940 6.467 30.347 1.940 6.467 30.347 4 1.806 6.020 36.368 1.806 6.020 36.368 5 1.574 5.245 41.613 1.574 5.245 41.613 Table 3. Total Variance Explained Rotated Component Matrix The rotated component matrix with group attributes is a summary of the Exploratory Factor Analysis, reporting how the responses of the survey are grouped into different components. This, in simpler terms, allows an understanding of the variables that are interlinked and behave in a particular manner that forms a trend or pattern that can then be defined with clarity. In order to clarify these groupings, a varimax rotation was done. This process refines the distinctions among the components, pointing out which items are dominating a dimension. Even after rotating, these five retained components continue to account for a sum of 41.6 percent of the variance, which, instead, ranges from 11.70 to 6.93 percent for all five components, respectively. In examining the results in a matrix, there is a focus on those with more noticeable loadings. These are usually at least .50 in applied research. There is also a focus on those with more acceptable levels of uniqueness. These are the best at capturing what is represented in a given dimension because they demonstrate less overlap with other dimensions. Local Government Unit Support. Table 4 presents Component 1, labeled LGU Support and Action, which reflects how visible barangay and LGU efforts, together with practical assistance, shape households’ willingness to adopt safer wastewater practices. The strongest indicator is “Item 14: In the past, we learned practical wastewater tips from barangay posts, talks, or social media and applied at least one tip with factor loading of 0.692”, which suggests that when households receive clear and usable sanitation tips through barangay posts, community talks, or social media, and are able to apply them, compliance becomes more workable in everyday life. The next highest loadings, “Item 5: When compliant options are limited, we support/choose practical interim solutions endorsed by the LGU to stay compliant with factor loading of 0.616” and “Item 30: The barangay/LGU takes visible action against illegal wastewater discharge (e.g., warnings, notices) with loading of 0.582”, point to the same direction: households are more likely to comply when the LGU provides realistic interim options and when enforcement against illegal discharge is seen and felt at the community level. This supports the view that compliance is influenced by what local governance actually delivers, not only by what it requires on paper. The remaining items, “Item 9: Cheaper or subsidized options would increase households’ use of proper wastewater management and desludging services with factor loading of 0.562” and “Item 18: Since last year, our area received new wastewater assistance/infrastructure (e.g., scheduled desludging, equipment, facility) (0.554)”, highlight enabling conditions such as affordability support and basic infrastructure assistance. Taken together, the component implies that households respond more positively when compliance is supported through concrete measures rather than framed purely as a personal responsibility. Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [570] Factor Attributes Loading, λ LGU Support & Action Item 14. In the past, we learned practical wastewater tips from barangay posts, talks, or social media and applied at least one tip. 0.692 Item 5. When compliant options are limited, we support/choose practical interim solutions endorsed by the LGU to stay compliant. 0.616 Item 30. The barangay/LGU takes visible action against illegal wastewater discharge (e.g., warnings, notices). 0.582 Item 9. Cheaper or subsidized options would increase households’ use of proper wastewater management and desludging services. 0.562 Item 18. Since last year, our area received new wastewater assistance/infrastructure (e.g., scheduled desludging, equipment, facility). 0.554 Table 4: Rotated Component Matrix with Grouped Attributes of LGU Support & Action Together, this element implies that the compliance cost for a household is largely a function of visibility. Households will comply when information is clear and understandable, enforcement is credible, and some sort of enabling assistance is provided. Such observations confirm the related discussion within the literature review on how compliance with sanitation can be characterized as a problem related to transaction costs. If costs or levels of compliance remain expensive, uncertain, or inadequately enforced, the easiest thing for the household would be to maintain informal or convenient alternatives. By increasing neighborhood satisfaction with government visibility aspects, compliance is the rational or more easily attained choice between the two alternatives put forward by North (1990), Lipsky (1980), and Pressman & Wildavsky (1973). From an intervention perspective, what these findings suggest is that there is value to be found in improving visible implementation over and above reminder and information. Clearly posted information about fees, contacts, and step-by-step procedures, along with enforcement and better options, can help to ease the complaint and improve satisfaction that the waste management system is working fairly and predictably. This is consistent with the reasoning that if community-level rules and monitoring are enhanced, then it can improve communitylevel coordination and lead to easier maintenance of community-level norms (Ostrom, 1990) Household Awareness and Compliance. Table 5 portrays common domestic practices and decision-making patterns associated with proper wastewater management practices. Indeed, the most relevant factor loading measure can be found in the statement “Item 4: In the past months, we reported or joined clean-ups so canals near our home stay clear and avoid clogs/overflows with a factor loading measure of 0.669,” because it implies the households’ propensity to report or participate in clean-ups so canals will remain free from obstructions and spills. Almost the same measure can also be observed in the statement “Item 2: We maintain the septic system (no leaks, timely desludging) to keep our home and surroundings problem-free of 0.666,” which provides relevant emphasis on the maintenance activities the households must perform on their septic systems. Apparently, the statement "Item 12: Our barangay/LGU or provider posts clear prices for desludging and disposal, and we use that information when deciding with a factor loading measure of 0.609" indicates the importance of readily available data on the desludging process, which acts as a decisive ingredient on the part of the households, while the statement “Item 1: Our household ensures wastewater is treated or taken for treatment rather than discharged into waterways with a factor loading measure of 0.559” clearly provides emphasis on the households’ preference for the treated instead of the untreated wastewater. Factor Attributes Loading, λ Household Awareness and Compliance Item 4. In the past months, we reported or joined clean-ups so canals near our home stay clear and avoid clogs/overflows. 0.669 Item 2. We maintain the septic system (no leaks, timely desludging) to keep our home and surroundings problem-free. 0.666 Item 12. Our barangay/LGU or provider posts clear prices for desludging and disposal, and we use that information when deciding. 0.609 Item 1. Our household ensures wastewater is treated or taken for treatment rather than discharged into waterways. 0.559 Table 5: Rotated Component Matrix with Grouped Attributes of Household Awareness and Compliance Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [571] In essence, the implication here is that compliance is maintained through the capabilities and habitual followthrough in the household, not only because the service exists in the neighborhood. Through the use of the Health Belief Model, the implication here is that the household is likely to respond because the gains are tangible and observable, such as a cleaner environment and a reduced number of overflow occurrences, and the cues for action are also visible, such as the sighting of the canals becoming full and the drainage conditions worsening. Through the Theory of Planned Behavior, the implication here is that perceived control influences whether the behavior actually occurs through everyday acts such as maintenance and proper disposal (Rosenstock, 1974; Ajzen, 1991). In terms of its applications, there are a couple of implications that could be made to support a strategy that aims to facilitate easier maintenance routines for households. These may include simple maintenance tips that are realistic and relatable, reminders that are connected with regular routines, as well as local reminders to remind them to follow through. It also aligns with one of the ideas discussed in the literature review, where just awareness alone may not lead to any changes when there are challenges to overcome (Ajzen, 1991; Rosenstock, 1974). Service Clarity and Affordability. Table 6 presents whether wastewater services are understandable, predictable, and financially manageable. The strongest indicator is “Item 7: In the past months, we received clear information on where collected wastewater is taken for treatment (0.654),” suggesting that willingness to comply is higher when households know where collected wastewater is brought for treatment. “Item 25: The community needs a clear, regular schedule for septic tank desludging to be announced (0.619)” highlights the importance of a clear and regular desludging schedule, implying that predictability helps households plan and makes compliance timing more realistic. “Item 8: Installment plans would make desludging payments manageable for our household, and we would use them (0.582)” further shows that payment flexibility matters, since installment options can reduce financial strain and encourage households to avail services instead of postponing them. Factor Attributes Loading, λ Service Clarity & Affordability Item 7. In the past months, we received clear information on where collected wastewater is taken for treatment. 0.654 Item 25. The community needs a clear, regular schedule for septic tank desludging to be announced. 0.619 Item 8. Installment plans would make desludging payments manageable for our household, and we would use them. 0.582 Table 6: Rotated Component Matrix with Grouped Attributes of Service Clarity & Affordability Taken collectively, this component indicates that there is an improvement in levels of compliance where the community can "see the chain" and where they can trust where their wastewater actually goes. This aligns with the principles of both the FSM and JMP, which frame sustainable quality not only within containment, but also what happens after, including transport, treatment, and end disposal verification or end-use destinations (Peal et al., 2014; WHO and UNICEF, 2023). If it’s unclear where it’s going, and potentially if it’s unclear where it’s going based on this schedule, then those who opt to be compliant can end up being compliant anyway if it’s derailed somewhere along this line. From an intervention perspective, what this outcome suggests is two intervention handles: transparency and affordability. As expected under both HBM and TPB frameworks, despite perceiving proper disposal as preferable and advantageous, individuals are likely to procrastinate until they are uncertain about cost (in sum) and/or clarity on schedule and availability for delivery (Rosenstock, 1974; Ajzen, 1991). In this manner, improved clarity on schedules, definitions on target achievement, and facilities for installment payment are direct intervention mechanisms to enhance turning intent into action. Discipline and Collective Support. Table 7 presents Component 4 (Daily Discipline and Collective Support), which combines routine preventive practices with community-based arrangements that make compliance more achievable. The strongest indicator is “Item 27: We scrape food and grease before washing to prevent drain blockage and dirty runoff (0.595)”, pointing to everyday discipline such as scraping food and grease to prevent drain blockage and dirty runoff. Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [578] proposed infrastructure investment. They may cover the institutional roles, coordination, easily accessible services, as well as specific community levels that can be handled by creating adaptable behavior change paths for the settlements based on factors like available space or income. Indeed, planners can create strategies for community organizing based on settlement reality. These may involve systems like cluster schedules that can be handled at a low cost. They should make community organizing feasible in settlements based on reality regarding space or income, as well as accessible drainage systems. The account can be made more significant by creating understanding metrics for monitoring at the local level. These may be based on actions by the local government on a fixed frequency. Additionally, community participation rates as well as drainage improvement can be used. Future researchers. Future research could extend the model of care need into other unserved barangays, districts, or seasonal scenarios and further improve the wording of some questions that seem inadequate and make the instrument much more reliable. Others can investigate affordability levels, willingness-to-pay patterns, and possible models on how to apply funds effectively because, in some instances, cost and service simplicity are essential dimensions regarding compliance even if there are awareness-generating initiatives. Flexible research could elucidate underlying reasons for how households respond to community regulations regarding some community systems that keep on working while others eventually fall through, as well as the impact of responsiveness on trust and future cooperation REFERENCES [1] Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T [2] Avila, A. P. A., Desierto, C. B., Mediante, D. J., Retonel, R. P., & Tongcaling, M. A. (2025). Wastewater management and disposal practices among informal urban settler households in Davao City, Philippines. International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15491159 [3] City Government of Davao. (2025a, June 26). DCWD: Septage Treatment Plant almost complete. https://davaocity.gov.ph/sustainable-environment/dcwd-septage-treatment-plant-almost-complete/ [4] City Government of Davao. (2025b, November 24). Project Management Unit for Comprehensive Wastewater Management in Davao City constituted. https://davaocity.gov.ph/local-government/projectmanagement-unit-for-comprehensive-wastewater-management-in-davao-city-constituted/ [5] Davao City Water District. (n.d.). Davao City Septage Management Program (SMP). Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://web.davao-water.gov.ph/DavaoCitySMP [6] Davao City Water District. (2025a, February 19). Notice to the public re: Implementation of the approved septage/sanitation fees for Davao City Water District per LWUA Board of Trustees Resolution No. 82, series of 2024. https://web.davaowater.gov.ph/news/post?description=&link=femAB._AlEAxawhlCQZB&title=Notice%2520to%2520th e%2520Public%2520re%253A%2520Implementation%2520of%2520the%2520Approved%2520Septag e%252FSanitation%2520Fees%2520for%2520Davao%2520City%2520Water%2520District%2520per %2520LWUA%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Resolution%2520No.%252082%252C%252 0Series%2520of%25202024 [7] Davao City Water District. (2025b, September 11). DCWD defers sanitation fee implementation. https://web.davaowater.gov.ph/news/post?description=&link=SHrHmhHGCALAUQMKzJFR&title=DCWD%2520defer s%2520Sanitation%2520Fee%2520implementation [8] Davao City Water District. (2025c, February 24). Barangayan 2025 for Septage Management Program kicks-off. https://web.davaowater.gov.ph/news/post?description=&link=xHhMwGntUQhwPDlUoGRa&title=Barangayan%252020 25%2520for%2520Septage%2520Management%2520Program%2520kicks-off [9] Department of Health. (2008). Operations manual on the rules and regulations governing domestic sludge and septage. Department of Health. [10] Environmental Management Bureau Region XI. (2024). Annual water quality assessment report (Region XI). Department of Environment and Natural Resources. [11] Eriksson, E., Auffarth, K., Henze, M., & Ledin, A. (2002). Characteristics of grey wastewater. Urban Water, 4(1), 85–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1462-0758(01)00064-4 Volume-09 Issue 12, December -2025 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 8.232 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management (IJETRM) https://ijetrm.com/ IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/) [579] [12] Jenkins, M. W., & Scott, B. (2007). Behavioral indicators of household decision-making and demand for sanitation and potential gains from social marketing in Ghana. Social Science & Medicine, 64(12), 2427–2442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.03.010 [13] Lindell, M. K., & Perry, R. W. (2012). The protective action decision model: Theoretical modifications and additional evidence. Risk Analysis, 32(4), 616–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.15396924.2011.01647.x [14] Lipsky, M. (1980). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. Russell Sage Foundation. [15] Mara, D., Lane, J., Scott, B., & Trouba, D. (2010). Sanitation and health. PLOS Medicine, 7(11), e1000363. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000363 [16] Michie, S., van Stralen, M. M., & West, R. (2011). The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science, 6, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-6-42 [17] North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press. [18] Ostrom, E. (1990). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge University Press. [19] Peal, A., Evans, B., Blackett, I., Hawkins, P., & Heymans, C. (2014). Fecal sludge management: A comparative analysis of 12 cities. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 4(4), 563–575. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2014.026 [20] Philippine Eagle Foundation, Interface Development Interventions, Inc., & Foundation for the Philippine Environment. (2013). Talomo–Lipadas and Panigan–Tamugan watersheds: Resource and socio-economic assessments (Final technical report). [Report]. [21] Pressman, J. L., & Wildavsky, A. (1973). Implementation: How great expectations in Washington are dashed in Oakland; or, why it’s amazing that federal programs work at all. University of California Press. [22] Prüss-Ustün, A., Wolf, J., Bartram, J., Clasen, T., Cumming, O., Freeman, M. C., Gordon, B., Hunter, P. R., Medlicott, K., & Johnston, R. (2019). Burden of disease from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene for selected adverse health outcomes: An updated analysis with a focus on lowand middleincome countries. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 222(5), 765–777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.05.004 [23] Republic Act No. 9275. (2004). Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2004/03/22/republic-act-no-9275/ [24] Reio, T. G., Jr., & Shuck, B. (2015). Exploratory factor analysis: Implications for theory, research, and practice. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 17(1), 12–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422314559804 [25] Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press. [26] Rosenstock, I. M. (1974). Historical origins of the health belief model. Health Education Monographs, 2(4), 328–335. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019817400200403 [27] Schwartz, S. H. (1977). Normative influences on altruism. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 221–279). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60358-5 [28] Stern, P. C. (2000). Toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00175 [29] Wetzel, A. P. (2011). Factor analysis methods and validity evidence: A systematic review of instrument development across the continuum of medical education (Doctoral dissertation). Virginia Commonwealth University. https://doi.org/10.25772/XBNH-SW44 [30] World Health Organization, & United Nations Children’s Fund. (2023). Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000–2022: Special focus on gender. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme. https://washdata.org/ [31] Presidential Decree No. 856. (1976). Code on Sanitation of the Philippines. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1975/12/23/presidential-decree-no-856s-1975/