CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña yesterday gave a sack of rice to each of the 343 scavengers at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.
Osmeña extended the rice assistance after the scavengers complained of being financially affected by the city government’s implementation of garbage segregation at the landfill.
Funding for the rice assistance came from Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Osmeña, who said he is willing to provide help to those in need of his help even if they are not from his district.
Some scavengers claimed that before the implementation of garbage segregation, each of them earned about P200 a day from gathering recyclable materials.
But with the start of waste segregation at the landfill on April 1, their income had decreased that some of them only earn P100 a day.
Mayor Michael Rama strictly implemented waste segregation to comply with the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Rama said he is trying his best, with the coordination of barangay officials, for the landfill’s complete closure by October 1.
Once the landfill is closed, the barangays will be the ones to keep the biodegradable and recyclable wastes. (FREEMAN)