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Vella ATIENZA, Ph.D. Institute of Developing Economies

Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO)

Chiba, Japan

IGES 5th Workshop of “Asia Resource Circulation Policy Research” 4 October 2011

Sheraton Tower Hotel, Singapore

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I. Examples of Recent Initiatives/Policies for Integrating the Informal Sector to the Waste Management System

II. The Philippines’ Framework for the Informal Sector in Solid Waste Management

A. Push Factors: Mandates from RA 9003 and its Impacts to the IWS

B. Proposed Interventions, Strategies, and Critical Actors and Partners

C. Some of the National Agencies and NGOs Working with the Informal Sector and their Related Programs/Activities

III. Some Successful Cases

A. Los Baños, Laguna

B. San Carlos City

C. Payatas, Quezon City

III. Conclusion

IV. References

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Philippines

Formulated the National Framework for the Informal Sector in Solid Waste Management in the Philippines.

India

It is cited in the National Environmental Policy 2006 to “give legal recognition to and strengthen the informal sector systems of collection and recycling of various materials. In particular enhance their access to institutional finance and relevant technologies (Section 5.2.8.iii.e).

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March 2008- First World Conference of Waste Pickers

and the Third Latin American Conference of Waste

Pickers was held in Bogota, Colombia

Waste pickers from more than 30 countries participated

in the conference

Shared experiences, identified challenges, and

strengthened regional and global networks

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July 2-3, 2009- South Africa`s First National Waste

Picker Meeting

100 waste pickers from 26 landfills in 7 provinces in

South Africa participated

groundWork, an environmental justice NGO organized

the meeting

Aimed to provide opportunity for waste pickers

throughout the country to meet and organize to secure

their livelihoods.

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mandatory closure of all dumpsites (Section 37)

mandatory segregation at source (Section 21) and the

creation of MRF in every barangay or cluster of barangays

(Section 32)

Impacts to the IWS:

Has caused threats (removal or denial of access) to their

source of livelihood

Reduced income

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It envisages the IWS as an empowered and recognized

partner of public and private institutions, organizations,

and corporations in the promotion and implementation

of the 3Rs with the end view of alleviating poverty

It hopes to integrate this sector into the SWM system

by “providing them with a favorable policy

environment, skills development and access to secured

livelihood, employment and social services” (p. 34)

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Table 1. Proposed Interventions, Strategies, and Critical Actors and Partners

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Source: National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC 2009).

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March 25-26, 2010- First Informal Waste Sector

Conference was held in Manila, Philippines (by

NSWMC and World Bank)

Aimed to identify options for interventions for the

informal waste sector and to develop partnerships

among stakeholders

About 60 participants from national government

agencies; NGOs, private sector, recyclers and academe

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)/EMB/NSWMC

- 2 pilot projects on IWS funded by UNEP, June 2010

- NSWMC created TWG to conduct capacity development for the informal waste sector

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)/Bureau of Workers for Special Concern and the Institute of Labor Studies

- RA 8425, recognizes the informal sector as part of the labor sector

- P70.00 registration fee; at least 15 members

- Policy sensitive gap (they will try to include the IWS)

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Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) - IWS is part of the urban poor

- profiling the informal sector through LGUs

- provides accreditation of organization - coordinates with CDA, DOLE, DSWD, DENR, etc.

Department of Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD) - Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran “Progress” (SEAK)

- IWS cooperatives can avail funds

- Provides training and financial support in cooperation with TESDA

Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) - Accreditation of the IWS cooperative

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Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP) - Project team member in the formulation of the National Framework for the

Informal Sector in Solid Waste Management in the Philippines

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) - Advocating for wastepickers/IWS to have access on climate change funds

Ecowaste Coalition - Project PROTECT

- August 23, 2010, Cebu Workshop (4 Modules including the recognition of the IWS; 65 wastepickers (80% of the participants), LGUs, DOH, DSWD, etc.

- September 15, 2010, Davao Workshop

ALLWEIS - Organized early 2008, 34 organizations nationwide

- IWS is one of the sub-sector of the informal sector

- Empowerment, social protection, poverty alleviation

- Self-help projects

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Through the Philippine Society for the Study of Nature, Inc. (PSSN)- Philippine-Australia

Community Assistance Program (PACAP)’s project, the Los Baños Solid Waste Organization

(LB-SWO) was formed.

It was in collaboration with the School of Environmental Science and Management

(SESAM) – UPLB and the Local Government of Los Baños;

It has 54 initial members (more than 100 members at present);

They were given an official ID signed by Mayor Perez and the LB-SWO president and they

were formally introduced to the different sectors of the municipality as the official waste

collectors of the municipality;

They have become official collectors of recyclable waste from households and

establishments, and with this recognition they can also operate in new areas to which they

could not go before (Atienza 2009).

The project also gave seed money, official uniforms, and pedicabs to the members of the LB-

SWO. Members were given the right to borrow up to P1,000.00 from the seed money as

starting capital for trading in wastes (PSSN 2005);

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Photo Credit: Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI)

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- There are about 10 workers (formerly IWS) working either full-time or on

a rotational basis (every 15 days).

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About 2000 scavengers were organized into 13 associations (12 during daytime and 1 for night time) and assigned them to designated dumping areas;

They are given 20-30 minutes to pick through the garbage, thus only residual waste are being dumped at the facility;

Scavengers are given equal opportunity;

Improved efficiency in recovering recyclable waste also improved;

Children below 14 years old are also not allowed in the dumpsite; and

Through the collaborative efforts of the government and NGOs, the Payatas Alliance Recycling Exchange (PARE) Multi-purpose Cooperative was established. It is duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority, through which scavengers can collectively obtain available assistance, whether financial or skills training, and other livelihood opportunities (Jaymalin 2008).

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Photo Credit: Payatas Operations Group

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The formerly controlled dumpsite was completely

closed on December 31, 2010

The Sanitary Landfill was opened on January 1, 2011

To help the members of the IWS “disposed” from the

former controlled dumpsite, 8 MRFs/stations were

constructed, wherein they can segregate waste/collect

biodegradables and recyclables

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There are 8 Materials Recovery Stations located at the SLF.

Approximately 18 trucks dump the waste pickers into the recovery

station for each shift (4-11 am and 11-5 afternoon shifts).

Waste pickers are organized into clusters made up of 25 members. Three

clusters are assigned to each MRF for a total of 75 workers in an MRF at

one time.

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It is organized to supplement/complement QC government’s Anti-Poverty Alleviation program in coordination with the Office of Vice-Mayor, Social Services Development Department, Sikap Buhay and Urban Poor Affairs Office.

One of the purposes of the foundation is to alleviate poverty especially among the informal waste sector in Payatas

“Project LIFE PLUS” – flagship banner “may pag-asa tayo”

L –ivelihood training and micro finance

I - ntegrative programs for personal and community development

F- eeding program, with emphasis on mothers and children

E – ducation and alternative learning system such as Balik Paaralan for Out-of-School Adult

PLUS – Environmental protection, disaster response, shelter program with Gawad Kalinga, and sports development programs

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Basic computer servicing Basic computer literacy Basic Computer Programming Hairdressing Dressmaking Welding Tailoring Beauty Care Others

These are accredited by the Technical Education and

Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

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Composed of 4 half-day sessions: 2 on Values Formation; 2 on Personal Planning

1st batch, June – July 2010: 120 participants; 75 completed the course; 10 signed up for further training; 6 on welding (3 completed the course); 1 on computer programming and completed the course

2nd batch, June 20- July 15, 2011

Participants who will finish workshops will go to the Skill training programs

Graduates may be absorbed by the POG, IPM or PPAF, Inc.

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Education: Balik Paaralan for the Out-of-School Adults (ages 14 and above; 10 months learning sessions every

Saturdays; Alternative Learning System) House/Shelter: Gawad Kalinga Cox Village (30 families will be

benefited)

Sports: Payatas Pasaway Streets Soccer (ages 7-11, former “jumper boys”

Environmental Awareness and Protection: Isang litrong liwanag “Eco-friendly solar bottle bulbs” (100 bulbs were installed on houses of Payatas residents; 500 solar bottles will be installed

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This paper shows that the impacts of the recent policies and trends in waste management to the informal waste sector is inevitable.

While these policies may be environmentally sound, these have also caused negative impacts on the livelihood of the informal waste sector.

This condition, if not properly addressed, may leads to another series of social problems such as increased poverty, crime rates and other illegal operations as these people affected by these changes have to fight for their survival.

Thus, there is a strong and urgent need for governments to provide policy support on how to deal both the environmental, economic and social concerns involved in managing the growing problems on waste in an equitable manner.

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The recent activities being done in some countries like those in

Latin America, South Africa, India and Philippines, among others

are good manifestation that slowly these governments have realized

the significant roles of the informal waste sector, who are an

important stakeholder in waste management, and their concerns are

being taken into consideration in the recent policies and programs.

In addition, this paper also reveals that although the government

plays a very significant role in providing policy support to legalize

and integrate the informal sector in the waste management system,

the participation of other stakeholders such as the private sector and

NGOs are necessary.

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The private sector, while they are capable of providing funds and

tapping experts in handling modern technologies to process waste,

still needs to recognize the expertise of informal waste sector in the

efficient collection and segregation of waste.

NGOs, on the other hand, plays a vital role of providing trainings on

the informal waste sector and at the same time as a mediator

particularly between the informal sector and the government.

Therefore, the strong partnerships of these various stakeholders are

deemed important on how to secure and improve the living and

working condition of the informal waste sector while at the same

time protecting the environment and the health of the community.

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Atienza, Vella. 2008. “Breakthroughs in solid waste management: Lessons from

selected municipality and barangay in the Philippines,” Asian Review of Public

Administration, XX (1-2): 82-98 (January-December).

___________. 2010. “Benefits and Strategies to Improve the Condition of the

Informal Sector in Waste Management,” Regional Development Dialogue (RDD),

UNCRD, Nagoya, Japan, Vol. 31 (2): 62-83.

___________. 2011. “Recent Policies and Trends in Waste Management: Impact on

the Informal Waste Sector and Some Points for Intervention,” ERIA Research

Project 2010, 3R Policies in Southeast and East Asia.

National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC 2009). “National

Framework Plan for the Informal Waste Sector in Solid Waste Management.” May

2009.

Payatas Reduction Program for the Payatas Informal Sector in Solid Waste

Management. n.d. (unpublished report).

Republic of the Philippines, RA 9003. “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of

2000.”

Samson, Melanie (ed.). 2009. Refusing to be Cast Aside: Waste Pickers Organizing

Around the World. USA: WIEGO.

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1. Aguinaldo, Emelita. Executive Director, NSWMC/EMB. “Personal Interview.” 31 August 2010, Quezon City, Philippines.

2. Cardenas, Lizette. Executive Director, SWAPP. “Personal Interview.” 27 July 2010, Makati, Philippines.

3. Cabalatungan, Cielo. Chief, Workers in the Informal Economy Development Division, BWSC-DOLE. “Personal Interview.” 2 September 2010, Manila, Philippines.

4. Dela Cruz, Glenda. Development Management Officer III, PCUP. “Personal Interview.” 1 September 2010, Quezon City, Philippines.

5. Hizon, Antonio. Coordinator, Project PROTECT, Ecowaste Coalition. “Personal Interview.” 31 August 2010, Quezon City, Philippines.

6. Jaymalin, Roberto. Payatas Operations Group. “Personal Interview.” 5 September 2011, Payatas, Quezon City, Philippines.

7. Laracas, Anne. Finance/Membership Officer, GAIA Secretariat. “Personal Interview.” 31 August 2010, Quezon City, Philippines.

8. Macuto, Restituto. Director III, DSWD. “Personal Interview.” 1 September 2010, Quezon City, Philippines.

9. Riguer, Grace. Supervising Labor and Employment Officer, ILS-DOLE. “Personal Interview.” 2 September 2010, Manila, Philippines.

10. Solid Waste Management Office Staff. “Personal Interviews.” 31 August 2011, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

11. Tesiorna, Susanita. President, ALLWEIS. “Personal Interview.” 2 September 2010, Manila, Philippines.

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