Randy Irog was a hardworking individual who lived in the small village of Barangay Mintal in Davao City. Like many others in our neighbourhood, he struggled to make ends meet and often worked long hours to support himself and his family. Randy earns his livelihood by collecting recyclable materials from his community, homes, streets, and alleyways.
However, Randy faced challenges in his work as not everyone in the community supported his efforts. Despite being proud of his work, he often received harsh feedback from others. He was even denied entry into specific communities occasionally due to a lack of a registered vehicle or official verification from the authorities.
Despite these obstacles, Randy has been determined to succeed and sought assistance. He enrolled in PHINLA Global Program, which was carried out in collaboration with the Barangay Mintal Council and supported resource collectors like Randy. Through this program, Randy received the help and resources he needed to improve his collecting methods, increase efficiency, and expand his operations to provide house-to-house collection services to residents, businesses, and educational institutions.
Despite the challenges, Randy persevered. His hard work and determination paid off, and he became a respected and integral part of his community. Randy’s understanding of the value of his work, not just in improving the environment but also in providing a vital service to his fellow citizens, is commendable. Today, as the Chairman of the Mintal Resource Collectors Association and IAWP Executive Council member, he continues to gather recyclable items, confident that his work is making a significant and positive impact on the planet and his community.
