IBMI-NGO gives sacks of rice to 131 Paleros (An IBMI-NGO Christmas Reach out)
December 11, 2025
Christmas is about giving, sharing and caring. ‘Tis the season of embodying love, kindness and compassion to those who are in need.
Though helping and giving assistance has been our everyday routine at the IBMI-NGO Action Center, we make sure that people feel our utmost care to the communities, as well. Paying forward is our core commitment.
Our utmost gratitude to all our donors on their donations.
Treated ‘trash,’ IBMI-NGO gave them dignity
Last year, in January 2024, a group of garbage collectors also called ‘paleros’ employed in Quezon City sought the help of BITAG Media Unlimited (BMUI).
Accordingly, they were not treated fairly by their employer International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS). For years, ISWIMS considered them “volunteers” not employees. The paleros narrated “they did this to us purposely to evade labor issues.”
The paleros received P150 salary for their 5-hour work per day during their employment with ISWIMS.
Since this story was aired, IBMI-NGO volunteer, Mr. Ben BITAG Tulfo took the cudgel for them. Ben advocated for and fought for their rights and welfare against poor working conditions. He even urged Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Labor, Employment and Human Resources Committee to conduct an oversight on this issue with the ISWIMS. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, a probe did not push through.
The paleros also took this case to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). But this case was eventually dismissed without acknowledging the exploitation and their poor working conditions.
Some of the paleros nowadays are still unemployed, looking for new jobs while others decided to go home to their provinces to start a new life.
Every palero gets one sack
Though it has been almost 2 years since they sought our assistance, IBMI-NGO never forgets them.
They may have used to pick up garbage, but this time, we let them pick up a sack of 25-kg rice.
With their rented jeepney, each of the paleros went home with big smiles on their faces, happy and at peace knowing that IBMI-NGO and Ben BITAG back them up and continue to look at their welfare.