III

MARITIME STUDENTS’ BEHAVIOR ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

______________

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the

College of Maritime Affairs

PMI COLLEGES BOHOL

Main Campus, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

in Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation

Banaag, Julius Israel

Arat, Daniel G.

Camero, Edd Wendel D.

Doydora, Harry James T.

Rallos, Icel G.

MARCH 2024
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ABSTRACT

The main aim of this study is to assess the behaviour of

maritime students when it comes to solid waste management,
specifically the third year students of Bachelor of Science in
Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering of Philippine
Maritime Institute Colleges in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. The
assessment is categorized into; segregation, reducing,
reusing, recycling and disposal of wastes. In order to gather
information from the respondents, the researchers used the
descriptive-survey research approach, through questionnaires.
The results showed that there is no significant difference
between the behaviour of students in two degree programs. The
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics
Trial Version was used to compile the statistics for these
findings, including the weighted mean, Independent sample T-
test, and frequency and percentage of the population. The
behavioural statements within the waste management categories
received an overall score of three out of four, or "often
done” for both degree programs. The researchers gave the
following recommendations: The administration of the school
can allocate sufficient resources to support efficient waste
management, encourage recycling and waste reduction, and
support environmental education among the student body;
teachers can teach students on the types of trash the maritime
industry generated, identifying waste streams or the waste
hierarchy and equipment or facilities available to aid it,
students should be responsibly aware of the impacts of waste
from the production to disposal.

Keywords: maritime, waste, recycle, reduce, reuse, segregation, Solid

Waste Management, waste disposal
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III

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .II

TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .III

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . V

CHAPTER

1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION
Rationale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Theoretical Background . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Legal Bases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Literature Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Statement of the Null Hypothesis . . . . . . . 11

Significance of the Study . . . . . . . . . . .12

Scope and limitation of the study . . . . . .13

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 14

Research Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Research Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Research Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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IV

Research Procedure

Data Gathering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Ethical Consideration . . . . . . . . . . 17

Statistical Treatment . . . . . . . . . . 19

DEFINITION OF TERMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

2 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .22

3 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Findings . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 32

Conclusions . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
APPENDICES

Appendix A- Letter to the Dean . . . . . . . . 41

Appendix B- Letter to the Registrar . . . . . .42

Appendix C- Letter to the Adviser . . . . . . .43

Appendix D- Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . .44

Appendix E- Letter to the Respondents . . . . .47

Appendix F- SPSS Result. . . . . . . . . . . .48

CURRICULUM VITAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

LIST OF TABLE AND FIGURES

FIGURE NO.

Theoretical- Conceptual Framework . . . . . . . . 3

TABLE NO.

1. BSMT Students assessment result . . . . . . . . . 23

2. BSMarE Students assessment result . . . . . . . . 26

3. Difference between the Behaviour Assessment in Solid

Waste Management between the Students of BS Marine

Transportation and Marine Engineering. . . . . . 29

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CHAPTER 1

PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INDRODUCTION

RATIONALE

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA) reported in 2020 that billions of pounds of waste and

pollutants enter the ocean annually, with maritime

transportation being a significant contributor (Brucker,

2023). The lack of environmental oversight in shipping firms

and ports leads to extensive contamination of coastal areas

and the deaths of seabirds, prompting the International

Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

(MARPOL) (Walker et al., 2019).

While MARPOL serves to prevent ship-related

pollution, achieving successful waste management compliance

requires considering factors such as intent, attitude,

technical knowledge, and behaviour of waste producers

(Mendez et al., 2023). The human element is crucial in

effective waste management at sea. Ensuring that future

seafarers are educated and trained about the environmental

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impacts of improper waste disposal is essential for

fostering sustainable practices (Dubo, 2024).

The study aims to evaluate the waste management

behavior of maritime students, specifically third-year

students in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering at

the Philippine Maritime Institute in Tagbilaran City. By

examining their current behavior, the researchers seek to

understand their potential environmental behavior in the

maritime industry. Beyond technical proficiency, this study

aims to raise awareness among students and educational

institutions about the importance of effective waste

management as both a social and environmental

responsibility, whether on land or at sea.

THEORITICAL BACKGROUND

Theory of Planned Behavior (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1991).

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) posits that human

behavior is determined by individuals' intentions, which are

influenced by their attitudes, subjective norms, and

perceived behavioral control.

In the context of studying maritime students' behavior

on solid waste management, TPB can be relevant in

understanding students' intentions to engage in waste

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THEORIES LEGAL BASES

 Theory of Planned  United Nation’s

Behavior Sustainable Development
(Fishbein and Goal 12: Sustainable
Ajzen, 1991) Consumption and
 Theory of Habitus Production Patterns
(Bourdieu 1990)  Republic Act No. 9003
 Waste Management of 2000: Ecological
Hierarchy Theory Solid Waste Management
(Lansink, 1979) Act of 2000
 MARPOL 73/78: The
International
Convention for the
Prevention of
Pollution from Ships

Third Year – Bachelor of Science in

Marine Transportation in Philippine
Maritime Institute Colleges in Tagbilaran
City, Bohol

Maritime Students’ Behavior on Solid Waste

Management

RECOMMENDATIONS

Figure 1. Theoretical and Conceptual

Framework
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management practices. For example, researchers can assess

students' attitudes towards solid waste management (e.g.,

whether they perceive it as important or unimportant),

subjective norms within the maritime community regarding

waste disposal (e.g., whether there is social pressure to

properly dispose of waste), and perceived behavioral control

(e.g., whether students feel capable of effectively managing

waste). By examining these factors, researchers can predict

and explain maritime students' intentions and behaviors

related to solid waste management.

Theory of Habitus (Bourdieu, 1990). The Theory of

Habitus, developed by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, focuses

on the ways in which individuals' behaviors, preferences,

and dispositions are shaped by their social environment and

experiences. Habitus refers to the ingrained habits, skills,

and tastes that individual develop as a result of their

socialization within a particular social context.

In the study of maritime students' behavior on solid

waste management, the Theory of Habitus is relevant in

understanding how students' upbringing, education, and

experiences within the maritime community influence their

attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to waste disposal.

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Waste Management Hierarchy Theory (Lansink, 1979).

The Waste Management Hierarchy Theory, also known as the

waste hierarchy, provides a prioritized approach to managing

waste with the aim of minimizing environmental impact and

maximizing resource efficiency. The hierarchy typically

includes stages such as prevention, reduction, reuse,

recycling, recovery, and disposal, arranged in order of

preference.

In the context of studying maritime students'

behavior on solid waste management, this theory is relevant

in guiding efforts to promote environmentally sustainable

waste management practices. For example, researchers can

assess students' adherence to the waste management hierarchy

by evaluating their efforts to prevent waste generation,

promote reuse and recycling, and minimize disposal.

LEGAL BASES

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12:

Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns. Sustainable

Development Goal (SDG) 12 aims to ensure sustainable

consumption and production patterns worldwide. Relevant

targets under SDG 12 include achieving sustainable

management and efficient use of natural resources, reducing

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food waste, promoting sustainable lifestyles, and

implementing environmentally sound waste management

practices.

SDG 12 provides a global framework for addressing

issues related to waste management and sustainable

consumption, aligning with the objectives of the study on

maritime students' behavior regarding solid waste

management. By examining students' attitudes and practices

related to waste generation and consumption, the study

contributes to understanding how educational institutions

can promote sustainable consumption and production patterns

in line with SDG 12.

Republic Act No. 9003 of 2000: Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act of 2000. Republic Act No. 9003, also known as

the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is a

Philippine law that aims to establish a comprehensive and

ecological solid waste management program. The law mandates

local government units to formulate and implement solid

waste management plans that prioritize waste reduction,

segregation, recycling, composting, and environmentally

sound disposal methods.

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RA 9003 provides the legal framework and guidelines

for solid waste management in the Philippines, including in

educational institutions such as maritime schools. The study

on maritime students' behavior regarding solid waste

management can assess the extent to which students are aware

of and comply with RA 9003's provisions.

MARPOL 73/78: The International Convention for the

Prevention of Pollution from Ships. MARPOL 73/78 is an

international maritime convention aimed at preventing

pollution from ships and promoting environmental protection

in the marine environment. It establishes regulations for

the prevention of pollution by oil, chemicals, sewage,

garbage, and other substances from ships. MARPOL Annex V

specifically addresses the disposal of garbage from ships,

prohibiting the dumping of plastics and other harmful

materials into the sea and requiring ships to manage their

waste in an environmentally responsible manner.

MARPOL 73/78 directly concerns the maritime industry

and imposes obligations on ship operators and crew members

regarding waste management at sea. The study on maritime

students' behavior regarding solid waste management can

explore students' awareness of MARPOL regulations and their

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preparedness to comply with waste disposal requirements once

they enter the maritime profession.

LITERATURE BACKGROUND

Environmentally responsive behavior encompasses a

variety of actions aimed at reducing harm to the environment

and promoting its well-being. These actions include proper

waste management, awareness of environmental impacts, and

sustainable consumption practices (National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, 2021). Zareie & Jafari

Navimipour (2016) define environmentally responsive

behaviors as proactive measures individuals take to protect

their surroundings by appreciating nature and addressing

environmental issues. Effective waste management, which

significantly reduces the environmental impact of human

activities, is a key environmental behavior expected from

all individuals (Salonga, 2019).

Sonnenfeld (2018) suggests that universities play a

crucial role in establishing waste management participation

as a social norm. Understanding students' behavior is

essential for influencing their future attitudes toward

waste management (Danner, Aarts, & de Vries, 2010). The

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) proposed by Martin Fishbein

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and Icek Ajzen (1991) explains how behavioral intentions are

influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived

behavioral control. This theory asserts that intentions are

the primary predictor of social behavior, with external

influences potentially affecting actions regardless of

intention (Ajzen, 2014).

TPB has been widely applied in environmental psychology

(Yuriev et al., 2020), where environmentally conscious

actions are often socially valued (Patterson, 2024). Despite

its effectiveness, TPB recognizes that constraints, such as

perceived lack of control or external limitations, can

hinder environmentally responsible behavior (LaMmorte, 2022;

Markman, 2018; Hunn, 2022). TPB helps explain paradoxical

behaviors, such as individuals holding pro-sustainability

beliefs but acting inconsistently (Octav, 2015).

The Theory of Habitus, developed by Pierre Bourdieu

(1990), explores how individuals' upbringing and group

dynamics shape their habits and behaviors, whether positive

or harmful. Habitus represents the ingrained dispositions

and perceptions individuals acquire through socialization

within various contexts. It explains how social agents

navigate and adapt to different social environments,

influencing their actions and interactions (Koch, 2020).

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Research by Fritz et al. (2021) applies the Theory of

Habitus to examine resistance and support for sustainable

welfare and socio-ecological transformation. By

understanding how habitus influences individuals' responses

to sustainability initiatives, researchers can identify

strategies for fostering environmentally responsive behavior

within communities.

THE PROBLEM

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main aim of the study is to assess the maritime

students’ behaviour on solid waste management. The

respondents are the third-year students of the Bachelor of

Science in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering

enrolled in the academic year 2023-2024 in Philippine

Maritime Institute Colleges.

Specifically, this study aims to answers the

following questions:

1. What is the level of BSMT students’ behaviour on

solid waste management, in terms of:

2.1 Segregation;

2.2 Reduce;
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2.3 Reuse;

2.4 Recycle;and

2.5 Disposal?

2. What is the level of BSMar-E students’ behaviour on

solid waste management, in terms of:

3.1 Segregation;

3.2 Reduce;

3.3 Reuse;

3.4 Recycle;and

3.5 Disposal?

3. Is there a significant difference between the BSMT

and BSMar-E students’ behaviour on solid waste

management?

4. What recommendations may be proposed from the

findings of this study?

Statement of Null Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between the level of

BSMT and BSMarE students’ behaviour on solid waste

management.

Significance of the Study

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Maritime Students. This study can promote awareness for

students in the proper ways of solid waste management and

the importance of this behaviour as future seafarers. This

can also serve as a self-assessment of their actions in

terms of being environmentally responsible.

Instructors. This study can help teachers become more

aware of how their students behave when it comes to proper

waste management. This can also serve as a reminder to

future seafarers of the value of being socially and

environmentally responsible; hence, educators should provide

the necessary guidance and reminders.

School administrators. The result of this study can

help school administrators establish a solid foundation and

encourage student to be more aware and compliant with good

waste management practices.

Future researchers. This study may contribute

information on future researches that is related to

students’ behaviour on solid waste management, such as, its

effects on other areas of learning elements.

Scope and delimitation of the study

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This study was designed to assess the maritime

students’ behaviour regarding solid waste management. The

study's target respondents are maritime students, the

questionnaire focuses more on their daily waste management

practices. Nevertheless, the researchers aim to evaluate the

students' behaviour in this area because it may affect how

they will behave when it comes to proper waste management in

the actual field of the maritime industry.

The study's respondents might not accurately represent

the opinions of other entities or groups because they are

limited to third-year college students of PMI, specifically

those enrolled in the BSMT and BSMarE programmes. The result

will be based on respondents’ self-assessment or evaluation

of their behaviour on solid waste management and the

frequency of how they are practicing the given situations.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
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Research Design

The approach that was used in this study was

Descriptive Quantitative with survey design. According to

Creswell (2013), a descriptive survey is a research design

that is intended to describe quantitatively the tendency,

behavior, and opinion of a certain population by taking some

samples as the representation.

Research Environment

The study will be conducted at PMI Colleges Bohol.PMI

Colleges Bohol is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational

institution of higher learning based in Tagbilaran City,

Bohol, Philippines, and is part of the PMI Colleges system.

This institution offers marine courses such as Marine

Transportation, Marine Engineering, and Customs

Administration. Its main building is located at Carlos P.

Garcia Avenue, while its extension campus is at Tomas Cloma

Avenue, Barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City.

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Research Participants

The researchers intended to select 226 students

enrolled in bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and

Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering as sample size of

the total population using the raosoft software.

Moreover, this study utilized inclusion criteria

emphasizing that the research participants were only third-

year students of PMI Colleges Bohol who are currently

enrolled in maritime programs. The chosen respondents for

the study, received a participant’s consent form and

questionnaire sent through Google Forms.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The instrument used was in the form of checklist

adopted from Cahoy (2013) which dealt on the solid waste

management practices in terms of segregation, reduce, reuse,

recycle and disposal. There were four quality or frequency

levels: often, seldom, never, and always, which was the

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highest rate. The statistician and researcher's adviser were

consulted regarding the questionnaire in order to make any

necessary revisions or remarks.

To interpret the level of behavior on Solid Waste

Management:

Description SCALE RANGE Interpretation

Never 1 1.00 – 1.74 Rarely exhibited or not at all.

Seldom 2 1.75 – 2.49 Occasionally exhibited, but not frequently.

Often 3 2.50 – 3.24 Displayed frequently or regularly.
Always 4 3.25 – 4.00 Consistently exhibited in all circumstances.

Data Gathering Procedure

Phase 1: The researcher will go through the formal

process of obtaining permission from the Adviser and

Statistician and sending out letters to the Dean of Maritime

Affairs, the Registrar of the school, and the study

participants. Upon approval, the study will be immediately

started.

Phase 2: The researchers optionally used Google Forms

for their questionnaire distribution after receiving

authorization. The collected data will be handled with the

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utmost confidentiality. All personal information of the

respondents will be protected and will not be disclosed when

reporting or publishing the study. Respondents of the study

is entirely voluntary. If she/he decides to participate,

then they will be given the consent form. Respondents are

still free to withdraw anytime.

Phase 3: Post- Data gathering. After the respondents

finished answering the Questionnaires, the Questionnaire

checked whether all items were completely answered. The

responses will be tallied and collated in pertinent tables

for analysis, interpretation and statistically treated to

test the hypothesis.

Ethical Consideration

To ensure that the researcher observed the "do-no-harm"

in the entire conduct of the study, the researchers wrote a

letter of consent to the respondents explaining to them the

intention of conducting the research and asking them their

time to answer the questions voluntarily. The researchers

reminded them it would not take 5 to 10 minutes of their

time to answer the entire tool. A further assurance that

complete anonymity will be observed at the whole duration of

the conduct and even on data processing. Furthermore, the

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researcher will ensure to uphold the rights of the

respondents, and if they feel that there are violations of

their rights, they can stop answering at any point. The

respondents will affix their signatures that they want to

take part in the study. The researcher submitted to Ethics

Review Committee as the quality assurance that the

researcher followed the ethics protocol.

Regarding confidentiality and privacy, the researchers

guaranteed the respondents that their personal information

and anticipated responses were kept confidential. This is

based on RA 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act

of 2012. Additionally, any information collected was only

visible to the researchers; rest assured that it was not

shared or utilized for purposes unrelated to the current

research study. The information gathered through survey

questionnaires was destroyed after the oral defense. Lastly,

there was no fee associated with the conduct of the

interview with the respondents.

The respondents are expected to benefit from the

study's results to help them improve their mental health and

well-being, enhance their academic performance, and provide

them with essential support during their academic journey by

providing effective counseling interventions.

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Statistical Treatment
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After data gathering, the data was computed using IBM

SPSS Statistics Trial Version. Then, the researchers

employed the following statistical treatment.

Percentage. The researcher used to determine the frequency

counts and percentage distribution of the respondent’s

demographic profile.

Weighted Mean Average. The average weighted mean is used to

determine the behavior of the respondents on Solid Waste

Management.

Independent Sample T-test. It is used to test the

significant difference of the demographic profile of the

respondents to behavior of the respondents on Solid Waste

Management will be tested with a significant level of

P<0.05. Bootstrapping. It is a robust estimation method for

reducing bias associated with normality, homogeneity of

variance, and sampling. Probability values (p) are compared

at a 0.05 level of significance. IBM SPSS Statistics

analysis (Vaughan and Corballis, 1969; Kirk, 1996;

Tabachnick and Fidell, 2018; Field, 2020; Denis, 2021; IBM

Corp, 2022).