Officials from DILG Laguna, the City Government of Biñan, Coca-Cola Philippines, and BEST Inc. during the MOU signing for the Tapon to Ipon program.
Coca-Cola Philippines is expanding its Tapon to Ipon PET bottle collection program to Biñan City, Laguna, through a new collaboration with the City Government, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Laguna, and Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST Inc.).
The initiative was officially launched with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, followed by an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) session and registration activity held in Barangay Canlalay. For its initial implementation, the program welcomed 50 store owners from 10 barangays, with five participating stores from each barangay.
Present at the event were DILG Laguna Provincial Director Jay-Ar Beltran, Biñan City Mayor Angelo Alonte, Coca-Cola Philippines Senior Director for Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Ma. Christine Ponce-Garcia, Senior Manager for Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Misha Rabat, and BEST Inc. Senior Vice President for Business Development Jan Vincent.
Bringing Tapon to Ipon to more communities
The partnership aims to make PET bottle collection more accessible within communities by bringing collection points closer to residents. Under Tapon to Ipon, participating sari-sari stores and local retailers serve as community-based collection hubs where residents can bring their used clear PET bottles of any brand.
Participating retailers collect and consolidate PET bottles brought by members of their communities. Store owners can earn points based on the PET bottles they collect, which can then be redeemed for a range of rewards, including Coca-Cola products, online shopping vouchers, food products, and credits toward utility bill payments.
The program aims to collect and divert recovered PET bottles for recycling, with the goal of bringing collected materials to PETValue Philippines in Cavite, the country’s first bottle-to-bottle, food-grade PET recycling facility.
An IEC and registration activity was also held to orient partner retailers on the Tapon to Ipon program and proper PET bottle collection. Retailers also received their Cashback Cards, collection bins, and other program materials to equip them as community-based collection hubs.
Each partner brings a distinct role to the program. The City Government of Biñan will help mobilize city and barangay officials and communities, while Coca-Cola Philippines will provide collection tools and Tapon to Ipon kits to partner retailers. BEST Inc. will support program operations and collection activities, with the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO) supporting engagement with participating store owners and the local retail community as well as the DILG taking lead in monitoring the program’s outcomes.
“We assure that the city government of Biñan is committed to this project and ensure that our communities will be deeply involved in the program. The community’s active participation is key to bringing this project to life and ensuring its success,” said Alonte.
Ma. Christine Ponce-Garcia, Coca-Cola Philippines Senior Director for Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, echoed the importance of collaboration in strengthening local collection systems.
“We know that strong and effective recycling value chains cannot be built by one organization alone. It takes collaboration. We look forward to seeing this partnership grow, and more importantly, become part of the habits and practices of communities across the city of Biñan. May this partnership inspire more communities to see every bottle returned. It is an opportunity to create lasting environmental and social impact,” Ponce-Garcia noted.
The rollout in Biñan City marks Tapon to Ipon’s expansion into South Luzon, adding to a program that has reached more than 170 cities and municipalities nationwide since its launch in 2021.
Equipping more store owners on the ground
The Tapon to Ipon team provided participating retailers with an orientation on the program, including proper PET bottle disposal and collection practices, as well as their role as community-based collection hubs. Store owners were also given Tapon to Ipon kits and tools to support their participation in the bottle collection initiative.
According to Coca-Cola Philippines, the partnership highlights the importance of collaboration among local government units, government agencies, retailers, and private organizations in improving local PET bottle collection and building a more organized recycling value chain. The company plans to continue working with its partners to broaden community-based collection initiatives and identify opportunities to introduce Tapon to Ipon in more cities and communities.
More information about Coca-Cola Philippines’ packaging collection and recycling initiatives is available through the Coca-Cola Sustainability Hub.at https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/brands/coca-cola/sustainability.
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