Metro Manila (CNNN Philippines, August 2) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday called for just compensation and social protection for garbage collectors.
DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said this should be part of the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act.
\”We have been moving for, under this new extended producer responsibility law, the inclusion of our informal waste management sector into the formal system of solid waste management,\” said Loyzaga in a Palace briefing.
\”Which means, our waste workers that are not formally employed, be justly compensated, covered by occupational safety, and given social protection, as well as the fair wage for their contribution to the solid waste management industry,\” ahe added.
The DENR earlier said that the role of garbage collectors in waste management must be recognized in the implementation of the EPR law.
The EPR Act lapsed into law in 2022, but its implementing rules and regulations were only released last January.
