Photos by Elhanan Pamesa

By Elhanan Pamesa

Some residents of Rizal Avenue in Barangay East Tapinac, Olongapo City, raised concerns on Thursday (June 22) about the local government’s long-overdue garbage segregation process, which is being firmed up.

According to a local resident who works as a scavenger, there is a designated time for garbage collection, which usually happens at night.

The resident, who requested anonymity, said any remaining garbage that was not collected is supposed to be taken care of by barangay officials. 

However, the village officials would only collect certain items, such as wood, bottles, and swill (scraps of food waste), leaving other types of waste behind. 

As a result, some waste continues to accumulate until the garbage dealers return for another collection.

“Dapat doon kung araw ng basura iyon din ang araw ng hakutan, kaso inaabutan pa ng kinabukasan (All garbage must be collected on the designated day, but some are left behind),” the resident said.

This delay contributes to the accumulation of rotting waste, which often reeks.

Health risks

The scavenger expressed concern about the potential health risks associated with the stench, saying he was worried about children getting sick and the environment being adversely affected.

Reynando Reyes, a garbage collector with 15 years of experience, provided insights into their work schedule and challenges.

Starting their work at 3 a.m., their primary focus is a designated area that covers the entire marketplace.

According to Reyes,  the route they take is predetermined, and they have no control over it. Their coverage includes various market areas such as Lumang Palengke, Bagong Palengke, Pag-asa Palengke, Jackson, and Kalalake High School.

Missed schedule

In the event of a missed garbage collection schedule, the office contacts them, and the truck that missed their area is sent to collect the remaining waste. This system ensures that no garbage is left unattended.

Reyes said complaints occasionally arise from residents about garbage not being collected, even though they have recently put it out.

This misconception often occurs when residents mistakenly assume that their garbage was not taken, whereas it might have been collected at a later time.

According to Reyes, there were cases where additional garbage was dumped after the initial collection, leading to a pileup. In such situations, some owners claimed that their garbage was not taken, even though it was initially collected.

Reyes also shared that some residents were occasionally late in putting out their garbage, and this can result in garbage collectors being reported to the office for perceived delays. FREEPORT INSIDER