Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. (CCFPI) continues to strengthen its commitment to help address water access and waste management in the country.
It signed a memorandum of agreement on May 20, 2025 to formally launch the Flowing Opportunities: Clean Water, Healthy Ocean and Entrepreneurship Project aimed at providing clean water and supporting sustainable livelihoods for the island communities in Tingloy, Batangas.
With a five-year grant from CCFPI, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will work together as key partners in technical support, implementation,\ and community engagement.
“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, president of Coca-Cola Philippines and board chairman of CCFPI.
“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,” he said.
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 Sto. Tomas, a solar-powered groundwater treatment facility will treat the area’s groundwater supply.
Meanwhile, the project will provide 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.
DENR Undersecretary Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David during the event, 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 stressed 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.
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.
