Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Waste pickers allowed reentry to Irisan dumpsite
WASTE pickers previously barred from entering the Irisan dumpsite were allowed to salvage materials but with certain conditions.
Engineer Nazita Bañez, assistant department head of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo), said elderly waste pickers are allowed to enter the dumpsite only during daytime.
She said they are not allowed to pick waste at dawn or at dusk as this might put them at risk due to poor eyesight.
The Cepmo earlier barred the elderly and those below 18 years old from entering the dumpsite because of their vulnerability in inhaling toxic fumes from decomposing garbage.
A group however asked the City Council to intervene in their behalf and allow them to continue with their means of livelihood.
Aside from the livelihood program, Bañez said they allowed reentry of waste pickers in consideration of their plight. "We were after their welfare."
The city is implementing anew the ‘no-segregation, no collection’ policy in the barangays to limit the bulk of waste that would be dumped at the Irisan dumpsite as part of its plan to finally put up a controlled facility as per the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act.
But the plan to convert the Irisan dumpsite into a controlled facility has been derailed following the City Council’s refusal to confirm the contract entered into by the city government, represented by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., and a private company.(Rimaliza Opiña)
