City Hall to pay scavenger’s hospital bills

THE scavenger whose arm was crushed by a garbage shredder that he tried to clean at the Inayawan landfill will be taken care of, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday.

Rama said the city will pay the hospital bills of 36-year-old scavenger Joselito Nuñez who is confined at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Nuñez tried to remove a coconut husk that was stuck in the grinder that was switched off. But his right forearm got stuck in the machine, crushing it and inflicting abrasions on his leg as he tried to extricate himself.

In an interview, Nuñez said it was an accident and he was helped by fellow scavengers who rushed him to the CCMC. He said some city officials helped pay for his bills.

Rama said he doesn’t want to blame anyone for the accident since all scavengers were already told about precautionary measures a long time ago.

“It is also basic. No matter what, you don’t place your arm in the machine,” Rama said. Nuñez is one of 87 scavengers the city government hired to work at the landfill’s garbage processing section.

The city government closed the landfill last April 1 to enforce its no-segregation, no- collection of garbage policy. The scavengers will work for the city government from April 1 to Dec. 31.

The council yesterday passed a resolution by Councilor Nida Cabrera allocating P322,640 for the honorarium of the scavengers.

The council also approved a separate resolution by Councilor Edua Rama that authorized the hiring of 81 scavengers who will work at the landfill’s segregation, sorting, shredding and composting areas.

But the council has yet to identify the budget item for the honoraria. With UPV Intern Joy Cherry Quinto