Earlier this year, Coca-Cola immediately committed Php150 million of its marketing resources to help provide aid to thousands of Filipinos weathering the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures. To date, the Company has donated over two million liters of beverages to almost 1500 institutions—including hospitals, non-government organizations, local government units, and national government agencies—as well as 174,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs) for 51,000 medical workers, and food packs for over 60,000 vulnerable families.
Furthermore, to augment the beverage company’s crisis response, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI)—the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the Philippines, which operates one of the largest truck fleets in the country—utilized its nationwide transportation network to deliver essential beverages and food packs to as many households and communities as it can nationwide, from city centres to far-flung communities. Coca-Cola employees carried out the Company’s relief provision following the strictest safety protocols in its operations and deliveries.
“Given our operational capabilities, such as our vast nationwide footprint, coupled with the scale of our truck fleet, we just know that we can help reach more communities,” says Gareth McGeown, CEO of CCBPI. “We loaded beverages and food packs onto our trucks, and they travelled as far as Cebu and Bohol. It was imperative that we tap all the resources at our disposal and mobilize our organization into providing relief aid to as many Filipinos as possible.”
The Coca-Cola Foundation worked with Synergeia Foundation, a long-time partner, to identify beneficiary families and communities, and coordinate with local government units. Through this initiative, 21,000 food packs were provided to families in Navotas, Malabon, Caloocan, Pasig, Quezon City, Muntinlupa City; San Fernando in Pampanga, Obando in Bulacan, Corella in Bohol; and the municipalities of Consolacion, Argao and Dalaguete in Cebu province. Each food pack consisted of five kilos of rice, various ingredients for meals, assorted canned goods, spices, and different hygiene and cleaning products.
“We are fully committed and grounded in our purpose of making a difference in the communities we proudly serve, especially now in this crisis,” says Winn Everhart, Coca-Cola Philippines President and General Manager. “We know that together with the Filipino community, we will rebound from this even stronger.”
Given its 108-year history in the Philippines and the loyalty it enjoys among Filipinos, Coca-Cola knows they have a responsibility beyond just providing refreshments, but to be there for consumers and communities, especially during these challenging times.
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