Nestlé Philippines continues to embody its role as Kasambuhay for Good of Filipino families as it forges a significant partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro.
The partnership was formally launched on March 6, 2024 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Cagayan de Oro City Hall, and is focused on supporting communities in the city by strengthening programs and interventions on nutrition and solid waste management (SWM).
“Nestle Philippines has been a consistent ally of the local government of Cagayan de Oro City in driving action to protect the environment and effect positive change in the lives of Kagay-anons. We are looking forward to continuing and further strengthening this partnership with them, especially through initiatives with the Nestle CDO Factory,” said Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy.
“Collaboration has always been at the heart of Nestlé PH’s business. We believe in the power of partnerships and synergies with like-minded stakeholders in maximizing the impact and widening the reach of our initiatives,” said Jose Uy III, Nestlé SVP and Head of Corporate Affairs. “With the CDO LGU, we aim to promote sustainable development, especially in the areas of nutrition and sustainability in the region,” he added.
As the country’s largest food and beverage manufacturer, Nestlé PH aims to unlock the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come.
(Image courtesy of PAGEONE Media & Communcations)
To further emphasize the importance of good nutrition and dietary diversity to communities in CDO, it will roll out initiatives on Urban Gardening, including a gardening contest and gardening starter kits with its brand, Cerelac. A nutrition education talk was also held to teach families how to make their meals healthier by incorporating vegetables and fruits from their own backyard.
Nestlé PH is also committed to helping shape a waste-free future by tackling the plastic waste problem in the country. Alongside the development of more sustainable packaging and strengthening its waste collection and recycling programs, the Company also promotes SWM education to drive new behaviors and understanding among consumers and communities.
“Nestle PH partnered with the city government for the No Time to Waste campaign to promote and educate our barangay and local leaders for the proper implementation of the Solid Waste Management Program which is focused on the avoidance and reduction of waste,” said Assistant City Local Environment and Natural Resources (CLENRO) Officer Elvisa “Bing” Mabelin. “With this MOU, we are focused on the advocacy and capacity building of our barangays for the implementation of the SWM program in partnership with the CLENRO.”
Under this partnership, members of the CDO LGU, including barangay officials, SWM officers, and community leaders, will be part of Nestlé PH’s No Time To Waste program through which they will undergo an action planning workshop for SWM. This will equip participants with additional knowledge and tools that they can use to educate their respective communities about proper SWM and apply to improve their SWM systems.
Last October, Nestlé PH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also held a roundtable discussion on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law in CDO to encourage more businesses and obliged enterprises in the Mindanao region to register their EPR programs by guiding them through the registration process and highlighting the importance of private sector compliance in addressing the plastic waste problem in the country.
“Since March 1st, the city government has been strictly enforcing the solid waste management law and impose penalties on violators,” disclosed City Councilor Rogelio Abaday, chairman of the City Council Environment Committee. “This includes segregation of solid wastes, organize and activate their barangay solid waste management council, designate a specific area for their material recovery facility, compost pits, and only the non-biodegradable waste will be collected by and routed to the city landfill.”
Supporting sustainable development in Northern Mindanao
Nestlé PH is committed to have a long-term positive impact to the communities it engages with. Its Mindanao factor located Barangay Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City, is the biggest local maker of coffee under the Nescafé brand.
As such, it advocates for smallholder farmers and farmer organizations by sourcing green coffee beans locally; and providing technical assistance and training, and superior quality planting materials through the Nescafé Plan.
Noel Lonzanida, Nestlé CDO Factory (CDOF) Manager, noted how their factory now runs on renewable electricity, signifying Nestlé PH’s transition to 100% renewable electricity use for all its factories and facilities nationwide.
The consistent efforts of Nestlé PH together with the support of the CDO LGU, the Department of Energy, and the private sector played a big role in the opening of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market in the region, which will improve service delivery and provide for a competitive electricity market.
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