Coca-Cola Philippines recently celebrated its partnership with sugar industry stakeholders, Negros Occidental government, and their sustainability program partners, who are all key to the continuous growth of the beverage brand’s socioeconomic footprint in the province.
Coca-Cola Philippines president and general manager Winn Everhart expressed his gratitude for their partners’ invaluable support and reiterated their commitment of the soft drink brand to their partners toward the future.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the various partners of Coca-Cola Philippines in helping us reach our goals of empowering the different points of our value chain,” Everhart said.
He cited “the farmers who plant sugarcane, the women micro-entrepreneurs who bring our products closer to the public, or the communities that benefit” from the firm’s water access program and schoolhouses.
“We look forward to continue working with you as we continue to refresh the lives of our valued communities,” said Everhart.
The company has been a long-time partner of the Negros region, even establishing a bottling facility in 1998 that utilizes 100 percent local sugar. Over the years, the facility has become one of the largest taxpayers and employers of the province.
Apart from growing the business of Coca-Cola in Negros, the brand also continues to strengthen its footprint in the communities through sustainability programs.
For the Agos Water Access Program, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, for the development of self-sustaining and low maintenance water facilities such as ram pumps and rain catchment mechanisms. The organization recently developed water gaskets using the recyclable plastic caps of Coca-Cola bottles.
Another high-impact sustainability program of Coca-Cola is the 5by20 Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources Program. Impacting over 15,000 women micro-entrepreneurs, the success of the STAR Program was made possible in partnership with Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The Little Red Schoolhouse, a program that aims to provide school children learn in a better environment, is being done in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Department of Education.
“Coca-Cola operates on a golden triangle of partnership – one that collaborates with government, the private sector, and civic organizations – to bring a more holistic and effectively unlock solutions,” said Everhart.
