Manila, 21 September 2025 – The Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA) took part in a nationwide rally to expose the deep injustices faced by waste workers due to corruption and neglect.
Despite being among the most essential frontline workers for keeping communities clean, safe, and resilient, waste workers are continuously denied proper recognition, fair wages, and adequate benefits. Corruption in government systems has worsened their conditions, diverting funds that should have gone to improving their working conditions and ensuring social protections, and minimizing the risks they face daily.
According to PNWWA, the floods occuring in the country are caused mainly by trash and corruption.
“Ang basura, kailangang linisin. Ang mga korap, panagutin at tanggalin,” Aloja Santos, President of PNWWA, echoed what’s written on their banner, adding: “Kalaban ng manggagawa ang korapsyon — gibain ito para sa isang makatarungan at maunlad na lipunan!” (“Trash must be cleaned up. Corrupt officials must be held accountable and removed,” Aloja Santos, President of PNWWA, echoed what’s written on their banner, adding: “Corruption is the enemy of workers — crush it for a just and prosperous society!”)
The group emphasized that corruption in budget allocation and project implementation directly robs waste workers of the resources meant to improve their working conditions. Instead of allocating funds to provide proper protective equipment and ensure fair pay and long-term social security for waste pickers, funds are often misused or mismanaged.
Impacts of Corruption on Waste Workers:
- Inadequate and inappropriate safety gear and exposure to health risks
- Low and unstable income despite the heavy workload
- Lack of social protection, healthcare, insurance, and retirement benefits
- Continued marginalization and lack of recognition in policymaking
PNWWA asserts that without the labor of waste workers, communities would drown in garbage, disease outbreaks would rise, and public health crises would worsen. Yet, the very workers who make these sacrifices remain marginalized and unrecognized.
The Alliance calls on the national government, local government units, and all concerned agencies to:
- Ensure transparency and accountability in waste management budgets; 2. Provide fair wages, hazard pay, and social protection to waste workers; 3. Institutionalize recognition of waste workers as essential service providers; 4. End systemic corruption that robs waste workers of their rights and dignity.
“Basura ang trabaho namin pero hindi kami basura! Korapsyon ang tunay na dumi ng bayan. Kaming mga waster worker ay lumalaban para sa malinis na lipunan at para matamasa namin ang ipinagkait sa amin na mga karapatan,” Sherryl Hernandez, treasurer of PNWWA, said. (“Our work may involve garbage, but we are not garbage! Corruption is the real filth of the nation. We waste workers fight for a clean society and to enjoy the rights that have been denied to us,” Sherryl Hernandez, treasurer of PNWWA, said.)
“Malaki ang epekto ng korapsyon sa aming mga waste workers. Kaya ang panawagan namin, solusyonan ang problema sa basura para masolusyonan din ang problema sa baha. Itigil ang korapsyon, parusahan ang may sala. Ibigay din ang nararapat sa amin,” Santos added. “Kailangan namin ng just transition, pero hangga’t nananaig ang korapsyon, mahihirapan kaming makamit ito.” (“Corruption has a huge impact on us waste workers. That’s why our call is to solve the garbage problem so that the flooding problem can also be addressed. Stop corruption, punish those responsible, and give us what is rightfully ours,” Santos added. “We need a just transition, but as long as corruption prevails, achieving it will be difficult for us.”)
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About the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL WASTE WORKERS ALLIANCE. (PNWWA) is an alliance composed of 12 waste workers groups representing over a thousand waste workers across the Philippines. Established in February 2024, the Alliance is working for the recognition and protection of their rights and welfare.
Contact Person:
Aloja Santos, President, Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA), phnationalwasteworkersalliance@gmail.com | +63 906 659 3323
GAIA: Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
DAN ABRIL | Communications Officer for Programs
email: dan@no-burn.org
| site: www.no-burn.org
