MAKATI CITY — The basketball court in Barangay Tejeros, Makati, is usually filled with the sounds of squeaking sneakers and bouncing balls. On a recent afternoon, however, it was stacked with 698 kilograms of plastic bottles. The barangay had just been named the top-performing community in the Coca-Cola Philippines "Tapon to Ipon" initiative.
From Runner-Up to Champion: The Tejeros Rise
After finishing second in the previous year’s competition, Barangay Tejeros returned with a clear goal: to reach the top spot. This year, 20 barangays across Metro Manila joined the friendly competition, rallying residents to collect and properly segregate PET bottles. Barangay Chairman Wilfredo S. Leonardo said the visible results of the program motivated the community to stay engaged. "Last year, we were only in second place. We wanted to be number one," he explained in a mix of Filipino and English, noting that he encouraged everyone to do their best.
A Community Fiesta Built on Plastic Bottles
The awarding ceremony was more than a simple handover. It transformed the barangay basketball court into a festive gathering filled with games, activities, and shared food, turning a serious environmental initiative into a true community celebration. For their victory, Barangay Tejeros received 10 stools made from recycled plastic, a Tapon to Ipon tent, beverages for community events, and a Premium Linis Barangay Kit with cleaning and safety supplies. The barangay plans to integrate these rewards into existing programs to continue encouraging participation from households and local sari-sari stores.
From Barangay Waste to National Resources
The collected bottles are brought to PETValue Philippines in Cavite, the country’s first food-grade bottle-to-bottle recycling facility. There, the plastic is processed into recycled PET (rPET), which can be turned into new food-grade packaging, completing the circular economy loop. Coca-Cola Philippines' broader sustainability effort now includes over 6,000 collection points nationwide, aiming to make recycling drop-off points more accessible to communities across the country.
