IN THE SHADOWS of Iloilo City’s progress, an often-overlooked workforce labors daily — waste pickers, the silent guardians of our waste management system. Their work is neither glamorous nor easy, yet it is indispensable. They sift through piles of garbage, recovering recyclables that help reduce landfill waste and support environmental sustainability. Without them, Iloilo City’s waste management system would be in disarray.
Yet, for all their contributions, these workers — many of whom are women — remain in the margins of society, devoid of formal recognition, fair wages, and social protection. Their labor sustains families, but they themselves lack the safety nets that would ensure their own well-being. No health insurance, no retirement benefits, no guaranteed income — only the uncertainty of what tomorrow might bring.
Consider the plight of waste pickers from the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Calajunan Sanitary Landfill in Mandurriao which this paper reported recently. For them, every kilo of recyclables collected means another meal for their children, another day their families can survive. But what happens if illness or old age robs them of their ability to work? What safety net is in place for their future?
It is time for local policymakers to act. Waste pickers are as much a part of Iloilo City’s economic system as formal workers. They must be integrated into the city’s social protection framework. Providing them with access to PhilHealth, social security, and livelihood support programs is not charity — it is justice.
The local government should also explore formalizing their work by registering waste pickers under cooperative or community-based organizations, allowing them access to legal protections, government support, and better working conditions. Partnerships with the private sector can help fund training programs, protective gear distribution, and fairer wage structures for these workers.
Every city thrives because of its workers — both seen and unseen. Waste pickers deserve dignity, security, and recognition for their essential role in keeping Iloilo clean and sustainable. This National Women’s Month, let us not just celebrate the resilience of women in labor-intensive sectors — let us fight for policies that protect them.
