In line with its commitment to sustainability and quality education, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) partnered once again with the Department of Education (DepEd) to support their annual Brigada Eskwela program through nationwide, week-long activities with almost five hundred volunteers that rendered a cumulative 2,462 volunteer hours to local communities.
“Every year, PCPPI actively engages with the education sector and the schools of our surrounding communities through Brigada Eskwela,” said PCPPI Corporate Affairs and Communications Senior Manager, Monique Castro. “Taking care of the communities that support our trade is part of our core commitment to sustainability. Now equipped with our new three-pronged sustainability framework on Water Stewardship, Circular Economy, and Inclusive Business, we expand our efforts in promoting effective resource management and our green advocacy to contribute to the mutual growth of both these communities and all of our operations.”
A total of 27 schools from the surrounding communities of PCPPI’s 14 business units nationwide benefited from the company’s community investment of almost a million pesos.
Effective Resource Management Through Water Stewardship
For its 2019 initiative, PCPPI supplied safe drinking water for students by donating high-grade drinking fountains to five schools surrounding their Modern Trade Operations, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog Region, Cebu, and Davao offices.
With a drinking facility provided to each district, over 5,000 students in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were given access to safe drinking water. Recipient schools include Muntinlupa Elementary School, San Agustin Integrated Elementary School, Doña Tiburcia Carpio Malvar Elementary School in Luzon; Cebu’s Tulay National High School; and Talomo Elementary School in Davao.
PCPPI also promoted hygiene and sanitation by conducting proper handwashing demos as well as donating handwashing facilities with hygiene kits set to serve 1,280 students. The four school beneficiaries were Marcos Elementary School near the company’s North Luzon facility, Echague National High School in Cagayan Valley, and Tanauan National High School in Leyte.
“We ensure the safety of the community around our operations and enrich their lives by providing them better access to water while teaching them proper sanitation and hygiene practices. By doing so, we not only address their immediate needs but promote effective resource management as well,” said Castro.
Driving a Greener Advocacy through Circular Economy
Committed to its mission of doing sustainable business, PCPPI also championed Circular Economy practices through solid waste management training for parents and students. The training was conducted in F. De Mesa Elementary School, Muntinlupa Elementary School, and Diezmo Elementary School.
“This year’s Brigada Eskwela extended our involvement with the students by reaching out to their parents and teachers. We wanted to impart to them lasting lessons on sustainability that they can continue to put into practice at home or in school,” she said.
On top of this, the company promoted recycling and upcycling by turning over a greenhouse made of PET bottles to Echague National High School in Cabuyao, 50 modified water sprinklers in Bacolod, and 54 trash bins to the schools covered by its Metro Operations Services, Modern Trade office, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, and Davao operations.
In support of better education for the local communities, the bottling firm donated a total of 17,200 notebooks and 275 sets of school supplies for students.
“We wanted to get more communities on board with our sustainability efforts to maximize its reach and impart to them our best practices on how to manage our natural resources wisely and well. We are confident that through these, our stakeholders can help us influence and encourage more Filipinos to partner with us so that together we can make a lasting difference.” Castro concluded.