(L-R) Ma. Cecilia L. Alcantara, President of CCFPI; Carlos Primo David, DENR Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science; Tony Del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and Chairman of the Board of CCFPI; and Elvin Ivan Uy, Executive Director of PBSP, during the MOA signing held at the Coca-Cola Philippines office.
The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. (CCFPI) is reaffirming its dedication to supporting the nation’s waste management and water access initiatives. In order to legally launch the Flowing Opportunities: Clean Water, Healthy Ocean, and Entrepreneurship Project—which aims to provide clean water and support sustainable livelihoods for the island residents in Tingloy, Batangas—it signed a Memorandum of Agreement on May 20, 2025.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will collaborate as important partners in technical assistance, implementation, and community involvement through a five-year grant from CCFPI.
“With our water stewardship programs, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines has been helping fund projects to provide access to safe water in local communities in the country,” said Tony Del Rosario.
“The Flowing Opportunities project exemplifies our long-term vision to help build more water-secure communities through innovative and sustainable solutions. Combining clean water access with livelihood opportunities enables us to empower communities while contributing to broader efforts in securing the country’s water future.” Del Rosario added.
A multi-sector approach to improving water access
Tingloy is a remote municipality in Batangas that has long struggled with limited access to clean drinking water. The Flowing Opportunities project will establish two climate-resilient water refilling stations (WRS) in two barangays — Sto. Tomas and San Jose — each tailored to address the unique water challenges of the areas.
In Brgy. Sto. Tomas, a solar-powered groundwater treatment facility will treat the area’s groundwater supply. Meanwhile, the project will provide Brgy. San Jose with a solar-powered desalination system to convert its high saline water sources into potable water. These systems aim to address the long-standing water scarcity in Tingloy.
The idea for the Flowing Opportunities project was conceived during a 2024 learning session hosted by PBSP’s Water Alliance and CCFPI. During the event, DENR Undersecretary David noted the role of the private sector to help bring solar-powered water filtration to around 100 island communities as sustainable, community-run enterprises. He emphasized the need for community-led water enterprises that would sell treated water, ensuring both access and long-term sustainability of the systems. CCFPI joined forces with PBSP and DENR to develop a solution that is now underway in Tingloy, bringing safe water access and livelihood opportunities to its underserved communities.
“This initiative exemplifies our shared goal of providing more sustainable water solutions through collaborative effort. By working together, we can make a difference and improve the lives of these communities,” Del Rosario added.
Sustaining the flow
A key aspect of the Flowing Opportunities project is to build local capacity through the creation of a dedicated water association with an entrepreneurial mindset. PBSP and its partners will work with barangay local government units (BLGUs) to identify suitable people’s organizations (POs) to manage the WRS. These POs will be formalized into Water Associations and trained to operate and maintain the system, ensuring its long-term sustainability and empowering the community to become self-sufficient.
Beyond access to water, the initiative also supports sustainable solid waste management. Each barangay will be equipped with a materials recovery facility (MRF) or plastic bottle exchange storage. In partnership with Pure Ocean, these structures will serve as hubs for a “palit-tubig” system, allowing residents to exchange plastic bottles for water to promote recycling and environmental awareness.
The project will last for 65 months in total, during which time CCFPI, DENR, and the LGU will receive progress reports and ongoing monitoring.
In addition to supporting The Coca-Cola Company’s larger sustainability goal on water stewardship, waste reduction, and community resilience, this program reaffirms CCFPI’s dedication to water security and community empowerment.
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