Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI)—the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of PepsiCo beverages in the country—recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the local government of Sto. Tomas, Batangas for the Adopt-A-River Program as part of the company’s long-term environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments.

Under this partnership, PCPPI’s Southern Tagalog Region Operations (STRO) team will reinforce community engagement and sanitation efforts to keep the Dipangla Creek clean and free of obstructions. The said creek is a 300-meter stretch located at Brgy. San Miguel, beside the STRO plant in Sto. Tomas.

“The partnership to protect the Dipangla Creek through the Adopt-A-River Program is an essential part of our commitment to promote responsible water stewardship across our operations. This is aligned with our goal to create a positive impact on society with programs focused on responsible and ethical operations, employee and community empowerment, and environmental sustainability,” said PCPPI Chief Environmental, Social and Governance Officer Atty. Carina Bayon.

PCPPI will ensure the weekly deployment of team members to conduct the collection of solid wastes, maintenance, and upkeep of the project area. It will also monitor the execution of weekly cleaning, overgrown vegetation cutting, and collection of accumulated residual and non-residual garbage along the river stream. Furthermore, PCPPI will put up vertical gardens along the Dipangla Creek stream in support of the enhanced National Greening Program.

Aside from the Adopt-A-River Program, PCPPI STRO has been actively supporting other environmental initiatives led by LLDA and the Sto. Tomas LGU through the years. In September 2021, STRO provided assistance to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) during the cleanup activity held along San Juan River traversing Brgy. San Vicente.

In July 2022, STRO celebrated PCPPI’s anniversary by participating in the National Arbor Day Tree Planting Activity of the Sto. Tomas CENRO. The plant also received a Certificate of Appreciation for its donation of 200 narra tree seedlines. In addition, STRO supported CENRO’s “Operasyon Linis Ilog” activity, in celebration of the Philippine Environment Month in June 2023.

“PCPPI will continue to strengthen our partnerships with the local government and other key community stakeholders to further our environmental sustainability commitments and contribute to the development of the towns and cities where we operate,” Atty. Bayon added.

Present in the Memorandum of Agreement signing were (in the photo, from left to right) Sto. Tomas City, Batangas Mayor Atty. Arth Jhun Marasigan, PCPPI Chief Environmental, Social and Governance Officer Atty. Carina Bayon, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Engineer Eric Velasco.