According to the City Environment Office (CENRO), Iloilo City, home to nearly half a million residents, faces a growing waste crisis, generating more than 314 metric tons of waste daily — nearly 40% of which is plastic[1]. To address this urgent challenge, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. (CCFPI), Central Philippine University (CPU), and the Iloilo City Government have launched Project AGUBAY, a first of its kind data-driven Solid Waste Management Information System (SWM-IS) covering 180 barangays.
The project’s name,
AGUBAY — derived from the Ilonggo word meaning “to support, to guide, to help”
— also stands for Awareness, Guidance, Unity, Biodiversity, Action, and
Yield. This reflects its mission of empowering communities with tools and
knowledge to create more sustainable waste solutions.
Representatives from Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines (CCFPI), Central Philippine University (CPU), and the Iloilo City Government attended the orientation session for the new Solid Waste Management Information System (SWM-IS) under Project AGUBAY.
Addressing
Iloilo City’s waste challenge
Iloilo City’s
waterways and coastal areas have long been vulnerable to plastic pollution,
worsened by the surge in single-use plastics during the COVID-19 pandemic. With
nearly half a million residents across 180 barangays, including 26 situated in
riverine and coastal areas, inefficient collection systems and non-functional
material recovery facilities (MRFs) have left waterways vulnerable to
pollution.
“This project aims to
ensure no barangay is left behind in the city’s fight against waste,” said
Cecile Alcantara, President of Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. “By
investing in digital tools and community empowerment, Project AGUBAY shows how
collaboration between business, academia, and local government can turn
sustainability goals into real, on-the-ground progress.”
Smarter, Faster
Waste Solutions
At the heart of
Project AGUBAY is the Solid Waste Management Information System (SWM-IS) — a
centralized digital platform that generates real-time reports to help barangays
and the city government:
●
Formulate and update Barangay
Ecological Solid Waste Management (BESWM) Programs in 152 barangays.
●
Build a centralized SWM database
for stronger city-wide monitoring and governance.
●
Deploy Barangay Material Recovery
System (BMRS) equipment to improve segregation, collection, and diversion.
●
Train barangay leaders and city
stakeholders in implementing sustainable waste solutions.
“Each barangay has
unique waste challenges. With real-time data, we can design solutions that
truly fit community needs — saving time, resources, and strengthening
accountability,” said Dr. Mary O’ Penetrante, Project Team Lead from CPU.
Empowering
Communities, Strengthening Partnerships
Through the SWM-IS,
barangay officials are now equipped to track and electronically report their
waste management programs, while the City General Services Office can respond
more quickly to barangay needs. This digital shift promotes stronger accountability,
transparency, and collaboration across the city.
Barangay officials from Iloilo City undergo digital training to familiarize themselves with the SWM IS, equipping them with tools to track, report, and improve waste management practices in their communities.
With the new system in place, Iloilo’s General Services Office can respond more effectively to barangay needs, while barangays themselves are empowered to draft, update, and electronically report their waste management programs. The result is a stronger partnership between barangays and the city, promoting accountability and scalability for future adoption.
Beyond Iloilo: A
Model for Other Cities
Project AGUBAY expects
to be turned over to the Iloilo City Government by January 2026, to help ensure
sustainability beyond the grant period. Its potential success could pave the
way for adoption in other cities, especially as barangays improve digital literacy
and adapt the system to their local contexts.
“‘This program
demonstrates Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc.’s commitment to collective
action’ to support improved collection and recycling infrastructure, such as
working with local barangays to better understand how we can improve waste
collection, sorting and recycling.”
For more on Coca-Cola’s sustainability
initiatives, visit: https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/brands/coca-cola/sustainability
[1] City Environment Office (CENRO),
Report on Iloilo City Ecological Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan for
2017-2026: Iloilo City, 2017, p.3.
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