"Yarmouk" Holds a Symposium on "Municipal Services and Sustainable Community Development" and Presents the Results of an Opinion Poll on "Satisfaction of Residents in Bani Obaid Municipality Areas with the Services Provided by the Municipality"

Representing the President of Yarmouk University, the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Yousef Obeidat, inaugurated the activities of the dialogue symposium titled "Municipal Services and Sustainable Community Development," and presented the results of the opinion poll conducted by the Center for Sustainable Development Studies on "Satisfaction of Residents in Bani Obaid Municipality Areas with the Services Provided by the Municipality."

Dr. Obeidat stated that Yarmouk University has always been a beacon of scientific and cultural illumination, a center for enlightenment and the refinement of knowledge. It has achieved remarkable excellence in its teaching programs across various stages of study and fields of science, in its adoption of applied scientific research, and in its service to the community.

He affirmed that Yarmouk University continues to implement its vision and fulfill its mission, despite the challenges it faces, with the dedication of its people, and that it is capable of turning challenges into opportunities and bright prospects.

Dr. Obeidat emphasized that municipalities are among the most important local entities that play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable community development, acting as a link between the government and the local community. They also provide a diverse range of services that contribute to improving the daily lives of citizens by working to enhance basic infrastructure and manage waste collection and recycling processes, which is vital for preserving the environment and reducing pollution, and an essential part of the sustainability strategies adopted by the Jordanian state.

The Director of the Center, Dr. Abdalbaset Othmaneh, pointed out that municipalities play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for people. However, they face many challenges that affect their ability to provide services as required, in terms of limited capabilities, whether in terms of budget or human resources, which hinder the implementation of large projects or even the ideal maintenance of infrastructure. This is in addition to the continuous population growth that puts pressure on the basic services provided by municipalities, at a time when citizens' needs for municipal services are constantly increasing.

He stressed the need for service recipients to understand the environment and conditions in which municipalities operate in order to appreciate their role, and the necessity of mobilizing all support for them so that they can perform their tasks to the fullest, ensuring improved services and meeting the needs of the community.

During the symposium's activities, the results of the opinion poll on "Satisfaction of Residents in Bani Obaid Municipality Areas with the Services Provided by the Municipality" were presented.

The survey included 784 citizens in the areas of Bani Obaid Municipality, with the aim of measuring their satisfaction with the level of services provided by the municipality.

The results showed a good level of community awareness regarding cleanliness, as 65.3% of residents noted a significant commitment from the community to taking out waste and placing it in designated areas. Additionally, 60% of participants confirmed the availability of waste containers within a distance of 100 meters or less from their homes, which facilitates the waste disposal process.

However, 68.6% of those surveyed believed that the number of containers in their residential areas was not proportionate to the number of residents and dwellings, while 49.2% confirmed that the containers were adequately distributed in their residential areas.

In the same context, 24.7% of those surveyed expressed satisfaction with the presence of rainwater drainage outlets in their areas.

Also in the same context, 27% of those surveyed felt that the level of communication with the municipality was weak.

Despite the fact that more than half of the residents (51%) surveyed described the level of cleanliness in their areas as minimally acceptable, the majority of them supported the idea of imposing additional penalties on cleanliness violators (78.4%), reflecting citizens' desire to improve the environmental situation.

The results also showed that 64.8% of citizens believe that the level of lighting in their areas is acceptable, indicating a need for improvement in some aspects of this area. Meanwhile, 62.5% of participants confirmed that the distribution of services among areas was also acceptable, a positive indicator of fairness in service delivery.

Regarding the issue of waste, the results showed that 33.5% of citizens confirmed that the municipality uses modern equipment and techniques for waste collection, indicating an urgent need to modernize the equipment and methods used for waste collection. Additionally, 38% of residents expressed satisfaction with daily waste collection, which implies that there is sometimes an accumulation of waste in some areas.

The survey pointed out that 48.9% of participants noticed acts of tampering, vandalism, theft, or arson of containers, which requires taking measures to protect public property. Furthermore, 64.3% of participants indicated that the streets and infrastructure in their areas were dilapidated, and only 38.4% confirmed that road and public facility maintenance services were acceptable.

Meanwhile, a rate of (30.7%) of citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the municipality's lack of attention to environmental and green projects, indicating an urgent need to enhance environmental efforts and implement projects that contribute to the sustainability of the region.

Regarding the impact of the establishment of Bani Obaid Municipality on improving services, 24.7% of survey participants indicated that this establishment had not led to a tangible improvement in the level of services provided. In contrast, the majority of respondents believed that the decision to establish the municipality had tangible positive effects on the services provided to them, which necessitates strengthening institutional efforts to develop municipal performance.

The survey results showed a mixed picture of residents' satisfaction with the services provided by Bani Obaid Municipality. Despite positive aspects in residents' commitment to public cleanliness, there are significant challenges in the areas of infrastructure, road maintenance, waste management. Therefore, the municipality must focus and pay attention to improving the quality of services provided, including developing waste management techniques, maintaining roads and infrastructure, and promoting community awareness of the importance of maintaining cleanliness.

During the symposium, a session titled "The Role of Municipalities in Providing Services and Sustainable Community Development" was also held. Speakers included the Head of the Bani Obaid Municipality Committee, Engineer Jamal Abu Obeid, and the Financial Director of Al-Wasatiyya Municipality, Mr. Ahmad Abandeh, who reviewed the most prominent projects and future ideas that would contribute to achieving sustainable community development.

Both Abu Obeid and Abandeh also presented the most significant challenges facing municipalities, foremost among which is the financial funding for various service projects.