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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
wnatf
of tl,’f €»rcrff«r^'
25 AUG-7 P(:1f
i€CEIVED BT.
S. No. 1161
Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE WASTE WORKERS' HEALTH AND WELFARE PROGRAM, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall afford full 
protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full 
employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. They shall be entitled 
to security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a living wage.1
"Waste workers" refer to persons engaged in the coliection, transportation, 
processing, and disposal of solid waste, and includes garbage collectors, waste 
pickers, recyclers, and landfill and dumpsite workers. They play a vital role in solid 
waste management thereby avoiding the negative effects of hazardous waste, and 
contribute greatly in protecting the environment. Despite their importance, waste 
workers are some of the most under-appreciated and unprotected workers.
This bill seeks to acknowledge the contribution of waste workers in our society 
by establishing and administering the Waste Workers' Health and Welfare Program 
designed to safeguard and promote their rights and welfare. The program will provide
1 Article XIII, Section 3, 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
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them with health coverage and benefits, occupational safety training, personal 
protective equipment, educational and financial assistance, and some other benefits.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is urgently sought.
CAMILLE VILLAR


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iicM Senate
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
to i.'
Sllici’ of tl’p ii'ic.ftarp
25 AUG-7 P«:l9
S. No
SENATE 
1161
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE WASTE WORKERS' HEALTH AND WELFARE PROGRAM, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Waste Workers' Health 
and Welfare Act of 2025."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the health, 
safety, and welfare of waste workers in the Philippines through the establishment of 
a comprehensive program that provides benefits, education, and training, and ensures 
access to proper equipment and facilities, in recognition of the critical role they play 
in maintaining the country's cleanliness and sustainability.
Sec. 3. Definition of Waste Worker- For the purpose of this Act, "waste worker" 
refers to any person engaged in the collection, transportation, processing, and 
disposal of solid waste, and includes, but is not limited to, garbage collectors, waste 
pickers, recyclers, and landfill and dumpsite workers.


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Sec. 4. Workers'Health and Welfare Program. - The Department of Labor
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and Employment (DOLE) shall establish and administer the Waste Workers' Health
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and Welfare Program, designed to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of
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waste workers in the Philippines, which shall include the following components:
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a) Registration and Monitoring System - A system for the registration of waste
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workers, necessary for than to be covered under this Program.
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b) Health Coverage and Benefits - A package of healthcare benefits, including
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free annual check-ups, vaccinations, and hospitalization assistance, in
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partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
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c) Occupational Safety Training - The provision of regular training programs on
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methods, techniques, and the proper use of personal protective equipment to
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minimize the risks associated with waste handling.
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d) Personal Protective Equipment - The mandatory provision to waste workers
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of suitable and adequate personal protective equipment free of charge by their
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employers or agencies.
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e) Educational Assistance - The facilitation of access to educational assistance
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programs and scholarship grants for waste workers and their dependents.
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f) Financial Assistance - The institution of a loan program under the auspices
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of the Department, in collaboration with qualified financial institutions, to
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provide waste workers with low-interest loans for housing, emergency
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situations, or the establishment of sustainable livelihood businesses.
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Sec. 4. Funding. - The necessary funding for the implementation of the Waste
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Workers' Health and Welfare Program shall be allocated from the General
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Appropriations Act (GAA). The DOLE may also accept and utilize grants, donations,
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contributions, or other forms of assistance, subject to existing laws, rules, and
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regulations.
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Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The DOLE, in consultation with
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relevant stakeholders and other government agencies, shall promulgate and publish
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the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
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this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.


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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions 
or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist 
and be given effect in their entirety.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
memoranda, circulars, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent 
with the Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,