Since 2014, associates from Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) Bacolod have been volunteering in the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education, helping repair and prepare public elementary and high school classrooms and other facilities before the opening of classes to help make sure that they åre ready for the students upon the start of the school year.

This year, in Bacolod City, over 50 Coca-Cola Bacolod associates trooped to the Antonio L. Jayme Elementary School in Barangay Mansilingan and volunteered to clean and paint its facilities, including the main gate, entrance pathway, and school façade.

“Coca-Cola has been part of Bacolod for more than 70 years, and we have always been invested in helping take care of the community that we’ve always called home,” said Bernard Engada, Coca-Cola Bacolod plant manager. “And with volunteerism as a fundamental part of our culture in Coca-Cola, we actively involve ourselves with efforts such as Brigada Eskwela,”

Engada adds, “We are always looking forward to activities that give us opportunities to show our support for Bacolod. We are proud that community engagement programs that enable us to do sustainability initiatives, like Brigada, are an integral part of who we are as Coca-Cola. For our Brigada Eskwela efforts this year, we hope that we have been able to help over 2,900 students enjoy a more conducive environment for learning.”

Throughout the Coca-Cola system, thousands of CCBPI associates nationwide actively volunteer their time and resources to positively contribute to programs and projects on education, health, and livelihood, and environment conservation.

As a company, CCBPI ensures that it leaves a lasting positive impact in its host-communities, as it works toward continuously strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders through environmentally- and socially-conscious policies.