Quezon City Students Invent Pedal-Operated Road Sweeper

Students invent pedal-operated road sweeper

Road sweepers or street sweepers are responsible for the maintenance and cleanliness of our streets. They’re usually equipped with a broom, a shovel, and a wooden cart called a kariton for trash to push along the road, sweeping long roads to get rid of trash. Indeed, it’s a job that requires lots of manual labor.

That’s why Louise Altez, Dennis Sagurit, Ceejei Amurao, and Jasper Gumayagay, four Mechanical Engineering students from the Technological Institute of the Philippines, invented a pedal-operated road sweeper, or walis de padyak in Filipino, that provides an easier and faster way of road sweeping.

How they came up with the idea

These students working on a thesis project came up with the idea as they thought about street sweepers and how manual their jobs are. Accordingly, they developed a device that can help the street sweepers, many whom are elderly, who clean the roads daily.

road sweeper model
Visual model for the “walis de padyak” that the group came up with
Image credit: Wiz Altez

The pedal-operated road sweeper is basically a tricycle with a compartment attached to it designed to collect trash without having to manually sweep it.

Evidently, this would be appreciated by the street sweepers as they wouldn’t have to walk any more and push a kariton or carry a broom and shovel. Overall, their job would be easier.

Students highlight the importance of our street sweepers

street sweeper task
Another task of street sweepers is to water plants as well as maintain them.
Image credit: Philippine News Agency by Robert Oswald Alfiler

Unfortunately, street sweepers in the Philippines get little compensation at work and street sweeping is often considered a low-ranking job. The same goes with waiters, janitors, and other blue-collar essential workers who get undervalued due to their low pay.

So, the students wanted to show their appreciation through their walis de padyak invention that can make street sweeping a lot easier. As of January, the students have come up with a working prototype that has shown great promise.

Raising awareness for street sweepers

street sweeper
Image credit: Philippine News Agency by Joey O. Razon

Although creative inventions come and go, these inventor students stand out due to their thoughtfulness for the street sweepers, people who should be more valued than what they’re given.

Their invention is useful and it has the potential to become a necessity in the long run.

What’s more, not only is the invention getting praise and admiration, but also the students themselves. Their work was so admirable that even the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman, Benhur Abalos, noticed their work.

Furthermore, Louise Altez expressed his gratitude for the attention that he and his groupmates received from the MMDA chairman and GMA7, TV5, ABS-CBN, and other media outlets.