Cenro seeks wage hike for garbage collectors in Lapu-Lapu

THE environment office in Lapu-Lapu City will propose an increase in the daily wage of garbage collectors classified as job order (JO) employees from P468 to P700, citing the need to better compensate them for their demanding work.

Jocelyn Abayan, supervising environmental management specialist at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), told reporters about their plan to ask the City Council to formalize a special wage rate for the 140 JO personnel involved in garbage collection.

The proposed adjustment would raise their daily pay by P232.

Abayan acknowledged that securing approval from local lawmakers might be difficult; however, she said the proposal is necessary to fairly compensate these workers, especially since JO personnel do not receive insurance benefits.

“Their work isn’t easy, and they need to be properly compensated because they’re doing their job, yet their pay is the same as the standard minimum rate,” Abayan said in Cebuano.

The proposed funding source for the wage increase is the P100 environmental fee ordinance, which took effect on May 1, 2024, for watersports and recreational activities.

Cenro also plans to use funds from the same fee to acquire six new garbage trucks. The City has nine functioning garbage trucks.

Meanwhile, Abayan confirmed that the establishment of proposed tourist hubs — delayed by the election period — will push through this year. These facilities will include waiting lounges with clean restrooms for visitors at designated ports.

“The activities to be funded by the environmental fee have already been lined up, including those for the four ports… We waited for the elections to finish so we could proceed smoothly,” Abayan said in Cebuano. / DPC