USAID and Nestlé Philippines Collaborate to Empower Barangay Government Units in Improving Solid Waste Management

The U.S. Agency for Development (USAID), in partnership with Nestlé Philippines, strengthened the capacity of barangay government units on how to enhance their solid waste management (SWM) systems and be resilient to climate change. A two-day training on formulating barangay SWM Action Plans was held at Nestlé’s headquarters for five pilot barangays in Parañaque City and one of each of Nestlé’s host cities in Tanauan and Lipa, Batangas. Together with USAID, the training was co-facilitated by the Paranaque City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean grantee, Pure Oceans.

“Keeping our oceans free of plastic is essential for maintaining the natural beauty of the Philippines, helping to ensure sustainable fisheries and protect the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos, while also reducing the impacts of climate change,” said USAID, Philippines Environment Office Director, Ryder Rogers. “At USAID, we are pleased to work with NestléPhilippines in partnership with barangay governments and local communities to help address and mitigate the impacts of ocean plastic pollution.”

From left to right: Atty. Denya Gracia “Deegee” Uy-Anastacio, Head of Government and Industry Affairs, Nestlé Philippines; Joel Palma, Country Director, USAID CCBO; Maria Christine Ponce-Garcia, Sustainability lead, Nestlé Philippines; Ryder Rogers, Head, Office of the Environment, USAID Philippines; Jose “Joey” Uy III, SVP and Corporate Affairs Head, Nestlé Philippines; Marian Navata, Urban Planning Specialist, Environment Office, USAID Philippines; Engr. Gerry PamilozaChief, Solid Waste Management Section EMB NCR; Jonas Lazo Enmom, Supervisor EMB NCR; and Olaf Miguel “Miggo”Bautista, Sustainability Manager, Nestlé Philippines

In January 2022, USAID and Nestlé Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in enabling local government units and community leaders in the Philippines to educate communities on the link between climate change and solid waste management. Through USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program and Nestlé’s Climate Change and Solid Waste Management initiatives, the goal is to increase communities’ access to education on the Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003) and share practical tips on SWM.

“Nestlé Philippines is committed to tackling urgent issues of plastic waste and climate change through our groundbreaking and large-scale environmental initiatives,” said Jose Uy III, Nestlé Philippines’ SVP and Head of Corporate Affairs. “Through our partnership with USAID, we are able to help empower community leaders at the local level to progress toward a waste-free future.”

Ian Posadas, Assistant Barangay Secretary and Focal Person of the SWM Committee of Barangay Vitalez, Parañaque City, was one of the participants and he shared: “The 2-day training workshop is a big help for us. As the smallest barangay [in Paranque City], we need to focus on the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – and the management of our waste. This plan will be like our lighthouse, or basis, for the next few years and to see if we are accomplishing the plans we have developed during today’s workshop.”

The plans drafted are for 2024-2026 but for Barangay Captain Lope Lina of Barangay Bagong Pook, Lipa City in Batangas, they plan to start early. “I decided that by August, we will start drafting an ordinance strictly implementing segregation so that the support of Nestlé and its partners to us will not be wasted.”

USAID launched the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program in August 2019 as the agency’s flagship program to respond to the ocean plastics pollution crisis. The five-year (2019-2024), $53 million program works at the global level and in specific, rapidly urbanizing focal countries to address ocean plastics directly at their source.

By strengthening waste management systems and building circular economies, city by city, the program builds sustainable solutions that reduce ocean plastics while empowering vulnerable populations and mitigating pollution that affects human health and our climate. 

Nestlé Philippines has partnered with the Climate Change Commission for a joint project “Klimathon: Our Race Towards a Net-Zero Reality.”

Around the world, the impacts of climate change are already being felt across all sectors. It is evident in the occurrence of more frequent and severe weather events, the rise of sea levels, and the continuous increase in global temperatures, among many others that in turn, threaten many crucial aspects of our lives including food security and biodiversity.

 

Unfortunately, these effects are only bound to worsen over the next few decades according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released last August. Human activities that result in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere are still viewed as one of the main drivers of the climate crisis.

Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III gives his remarks during the event and congratulated both Nestlé Philippines and the Climate Change Commission for bringing bright young minds into the fold of tackling the climate crisis

 

Given the current situation, the need to rethink our development approaches and incorporate sustainability principles in our strategies and plans has never been more urgent. Taking on this challenge and in line with its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Nestlé Philippines has partnered with the Climate Change Commission, the agency spearheading the government’s climate change initiatives, for a joint project called “Klimathon: Our Race Towards a Net-Zero Reality.”

 

With the goal to empower the youth to develop and implement meaningful climate actions to address climate change issues, the Klimathon provides a platform for Filipino youth to spur the development of innovative and sustainability-focused solutions. Participants are asked to develop creative solutions among the following pillars: tackling plastic problems; lowering greenhouse gas emissions; and improving food security.

Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki speaks on the importance of empowering the youth to join the fight against climate change.

“Half of the world’s population consists of the youth. The Philippines today has the largest generation of young people in its history, comprising 28% of our population. Those of you who are young, who are here today, have a crucial and necessary role in tackling climate change. The Klimathon is a creative platform for you to participate in climate action, to help ensure a livable future on the planet that you will inherit,” said Kais Marzouki, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Philippines.

In his keynote message, Sec. De Guzman shares how CCC champions climate solutions through partnerships and youth engagements and recognizes Nestlé PH for championing the path to sustainability

 

“It is imperative to work with all sectors – including the youth – in taking a whole of government and whole of society approach in view of intergenerational responsibility. Their future will be paved by the actions we take today,” said Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman of the Climate Change Commission.

Ms. Nazrin Camille Castro, Branch Manager of The Climate Reality Project Philippines delivers a message of support for the joint initiative of gathering and empowering the youth sector through these innovation hubs focused on climate change action

 

Participating teams of Filipino students and young professionals will each present a project concept paper based on one of the three focus pillars. From there, 10 finalists will undergo a mentorship program with industry and field experts to refine and further develop their project design. Cash prizes and recognition await the winning teams.

 

Ms. Arlene Tan-Bantoto (right), SVP and Head of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at NestléPhilippines (representing Kais Marzouki) and Sec. Emmanuel De Guzman (left) of the Climate Change Commission lead the document signing.

 

Submission of proposals for Klimathon: Our Race Towards a Net-Zero Reality is now open until November 10, 2021, 11:59 PM. Interested participants can head on over to Nes.tl/Klimathon or the Climate Change Commission’s website to view the full competition mechanics and how they can join. You may also check out CCC’s and Nestlé Philippines’ social media pages for more details and updates.