Abstract
This study examines the spatial and economic drivers of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for landfill waste management among riparian residents of the Santa Barbara River Continuum in Nagcarlan, Laguna. Encompassing the barangays of Sulsuguin, Alumbrado, and Talahib as potential direct impact zones, the research utilizes a binary logistic regression and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) framework to evaluate how perceived risks and benefits dictate payment behavior. Using stratified random sampling, a sample size of 135 was pursued. The study found that 79% of respondents align with Pigovian logic, viewing waste management as a primary government responsibility to be addressed through municipal-level taxes and surcharges. The logistic regression model identified landfill proximity and business expectancy as the significant predictors of WTP. Findings reveal a sharp distance-decay effect: for every additional kilometer away from the landfill, the odds of WTP decrease by 74.8% (Odds Ratio = 0.25). While the CBA highlights optimism regarding property value appreciation (50% expecting increases), it reveals a strongly negative sentiment toward taxation, with 80% of participants expressing tax aversion. This disconnect suggests an isolation effect, where immediate fiscal costs overshadow perceived long-term infrastructure benefits. The study concludes that for waste-to-energy projects to be socially sustainable, planners must bridge the tax-benefit gap through transparent expenditure and ensure that economic gains are distributed broadly to offset perceived financial burdens.
