ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu has approved the hiring of at least 2,000 “estero rangers” who will help local government units within and near Manila Bay to address indiscriminate waste disposal and improve garbage collection.
“We would like to impress upon the public that we really need to overhaul the disposal system in Metro Manila, make it efficient and for the public to stop dumping trash into our waterways,” Cimatu said in a statement.
He said that two “estero rangers” each will be initially deployed to 711 barangays that are traversed by esteros, not reached by garbage trucks and mostly populated by informal settlers.
The hiring of the “estero rangers” have been endorsed by barangay officials in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Under the contract, an “estero ranger” gets a monthly salary of P8,500 for a five-day work week schedule.
They are tasked to conduct removal of garbage from esteros fitted with trash traps and house-to-house garbage collection in selected alleys for transfer and storage at pickup points accessible to garbage trucks.
At least 203 creeks and waterways traversing 711 barangays will be serviced by the “estero rangers.” — Jed Macapagal