Davao del Sur is getting a little greener, thanks to a new partnership between Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) and the Municipalities of Sulop and Matanao.
In keeping with its commitment to building more sustainable communities, CCEAP turned over baling machines to both municipalities through its Tapon to Ipon program. The machines will help improve the collection, storage, and transport of clear PET plastic bottles for recycling—a big step toward more efficient waste management in the region.
The partnership was formalized in a ceremony led by CCEAP Regulatory & Sustainability Compliance Manager Atty. Chrissete Agustin and CCEAP Stakeholder Relations Associate Manager Vanesa Calixto. Joining them were representatives from the Municipalities of Sulop and Matanao, along with officials from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
Local leaders weigh in
For Sulop Mayor Atty. Jose Jimmy Sagarino, the initiative is a testament to the community’s collective efforts toward responsible waste management.
“We are proud to be among the LGUs championing the collection and diversion of PET bottles in Davao del Sur,” he said. “We consider this initiative a significant step in strengthening our partnership with Coca-Cola as we continue working together to foster a more sustainable community for our residents. Isa ka tinguha, usa ka lihok, kalambuan sa tanan (One aspiration, one action, progress for all).”
Matanao Mayor Irick Agbon echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the value of public-private partnerships.
“We believe in the power of partnerships between the public and private sectors in building effective waste management and recycling systems,” he said. “The baling machine is a valuable contribution that will help bolster our environmental protection and solid waste management programs. We are thankful to CCEAP for their support and look forward to empowering our local teams as we advance our vision of a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Matanao.”
Building on a growing partnership
The collaboration with Sulop and Matanao builds on CCEAP’s long-standing work with local governments across the Davao region to advance PET bottle recovery and recycling. In 2023, Coca-Cola partnered with the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur to clear large-scale stockpiles of PET bottles and divert them for recycling. Large volumes have also been collected from the Island Garden City of Samal and the municipality of Baganga in Davao Oriental.
“At Coca-Cola, we believe that access to efficient waste management infrastructure plays an important role in accelerating local circular economy objectives,” said Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, CCEAP VP for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs. “With the support of a baling machine, we hope to support more communities with the tools needed to optimize collection and recycling capabilities.”
As CCEAP continues its collection and recycling initiatives across the country, it remains committed to working with partners across sectors to strengthen recovery systems, keep valuable materials in circulation, and ensure that more PET bottles are collected, recycled, and given new life.
