Nestle Philippines is working with the US Agency for Development (USAID) in enhancing solid management systems (SWM) of local barangays and help address and mitigate the impacts of ocean plastic pollution in their areas.
Five pilot barangays were part of a two-day training on formulating barangay SWM Action Plans at Nestlé’s headquarters recently, These pilot barangays are in Parañaque City and one of each of Nestlé’s host cities in Tanauan and Lipa, Batangas.
The initiative is part of a memorandum of understanding signed in January 2022 between USAID and Nestlé Philippines where they agreed to work together in enabling local government units and community leaders in the Philippines educate communities on the link between climate change and SWM.
Through USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program and Nestlé’s Climate Change and SWM initiatives, the goal is to increase communities’ access to education on the Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003) and share practical tips on SWM.
The plans drafted are for 2024-2026.
USAID launched the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program in August 2019 as the agency’s flagship program to respond to the ocean plastics pollution crisis. The five-year (2019-2024), $53 million program works at the global level and in specific, rapidly urbanizing focal countries to address ocean plastics directly at their source.
By strengthening waste management systems and building circular economies, city by city, the program builds sustainable solutions that reduce ocean plastics while empowering vulnerable populations and mitigating pollution that affects human health and our climate.
