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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Scavenging in Rodriguez landfill continues despite trash slide incident

Scavenging in Rodriguez landfill continues despite trash slide incident

Published Feb 24, 2026 05:10 pm
The sanitary landfill in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal (photo courtesy of Rodriguez Police Station)
The sanitary landfill in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal (photo courtesy of Rodriguez Police Station)
Scavenging for recyclable trash remains the activity of some residents living in the sanitary landfill in Barangay San Isidro, in Rodriguez, Rizal, four days after the trash slide in a portion of the dumping site, which left one woman dead and two scavengers missing.
An official of Barangay San Isidro told Manila Bulletin that the usual activities at the landfill -- individuals searching for re-usable garbage or those which can be sold to junkshops -- were normal on Feb. 24, or four days following the collapse of mounds of trash in the facility owned by the International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Incorporated.
Barangay San Isidro Secretary Charlie Lavez said three bulldozer operators were also injured after their respective heavy equipment were trapped in the piles of garbage.
The bulldozer operators were all rescued by the landfill personnel, according to the Rodriguez Police Station.
Lavez said some 500 to 700 households are living in the vicinity of the sanitary landfill, whose most of the members are scavengers while others are workers of the landfill.
The barangay official said the landfill remained open to scavengers as of Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 24
Police said the lone female fatality, whose body was retrieved on Sunday, was cremated.
Lt. Col. Arwyn Gaffud, Rodriguez Police chief, said the inhabitants outside the landfill have been uncooperative with the police since the trash slide happened.
Lavez said retrieval operation was ongoing at the accident site as of Tuesday morning, with both provincial and municipal rescue personnel continuing the search for the two missing individuals. 
Personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were also on site conducting investigation.
The municipal government of Rodriguez, in coordination with Barangay San Isidro, has been distributing relief goods to the scavengers and their families who rely on garbage picking as a way of livelihood.
More than 500 food packs were distributed by the municipal government on Monday, according to the barangay secretary.
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