The politics of recycling

IAM told that one of our local billionaires is earning more millions by simply collecting the recyclables from their numerous shopping malls all over the country.

Take note that I used the term “recyclables”, and not “garbage”. Whatever that rich guy is doing, there is really nothing wrong with that, because his family owns the malls, and there is no corruption involved. Besides, he is doing his part in reducing the volume of garbage that goes into the landfills and dumpsites.

In contrast, I am also told that there are some local officials who are already millionaires, but are earning more millions from the business of collecting, hauling and dumping the garbage into the landfills and dumpsites.

There is probably nothing wrong with what these guys are doing, except that there seems to be a conflict of interest with their personal goal of making more money, and their sworn duty to implement their solid waste management programs.

In theory, the more recyclables are collected for “genuine” recycling, the less solid waste there will be to collect, haul and dump.

Conversely, the lesser recyclables are collected, the more money can be made from collecting, hauling and dumping.

That is the reason why in some localities, even the “presorted” recyclables are thrown back into the rest of the garbage.

I think that the solution to this conflict is to have separate trucks for the collection of recyclables. That way, the real recyclers could also make money.

RETOOLING AND UPSKILLING OF WORKERS

It is already a given reality that many workers are losing their jobs as the demand for employable skills are changing, driven by new technologies that are being used in their workplaces, driven by new hardware or software or by combinations of both.

It is not really a case of sink or swim, because it is more of a case of do or die, meaning that no matter how these workers would try to swim with the currents, they could still “die” if they could not adjust to the new realities either by retooling or upskilling or by combinations of both.

In theory, it should be the DOLE that should be monitoring and tracking the changes in the job markets, locally and globally. I hope that they are doing that, otherwise we would be in deep trouble if they are not.

Perhaps, these functions could be performed by our Labor Attaches, if they are not too busy helping their OFW clients.

In addition, our Trade Attaches could also perform these functions, or they could work together as part of one country team under the direction of the Ambassador or the Consul General. Since most of these changes are technology related, it would also be practical for both the DOST and the DICT to join the tracking and monitoring, possibly including the DTI also, since the Trade Attaches report to them./

In addition, our Trade Attaches could also perform these functions, or they could work together as part of one country team under the direction of the Ambassador or the Consul General. Since most of these changes are technology related, it would also be practical for both the DOST and the DICT to join the tracking and monitoring, possibly including the DTI also, since the Trade Attaches report to them.