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.
Iloilo City is taking a bold step toward a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable future with the launch of Project AGUBAY, a pioneering digital waste management system designed to help the city tackle its mounting garbage challenge. With over 314 metric tons of waste produced daily—nearly 40 percent of which is plastic—the initiative aims to transform how all 180 barangays monitor, manage, and respond to waste.
A collaboration between Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. (CCFPI), Central Philippine University (CPU), and the Iloilo City Government, Project AGUBAY introduces the first data-driven Solid Waste Management Information System (SWM-IS) in the city. AGUBAY, which comes from the Ilonggo word for support and guidance, also stands for Awareness, Guidance, Unity, Biodiversity, Action, and Yield—principles that anchor the project’s mission to empower communities with real, actionable solutions.
During the orientation session, representatives from CCFPI, CPU, and the city government emphasized how the digital system can reshape waste management at the barangay level. For years, clogged waterways, fragile coastal zones, and non-functional material recovery facilities have left Iloilo vulnerable to pollution, especially during the rise of single-use plastics after the pandemic.
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.
According to CCFPI President Cecile Alcantara, Project AGUBAY is designed to ensure no barangay falls behind. By equipping communities with the right tools, she said, collaboration among business, academia, and local government becomes a catalyst for real environmental impact.
Central to the project is the SWM-IS, a platform that generates real-time waste data, enabling barangays to tailor their ecological solid waste management programs more efficiently. With the system, barangays can easily update reports, identify problem areas, and coordinate more effectively with the city. City departments, including the General Services Office, can now respond quicker to on-ground issues, strengthening accountability and speeding up interventions.
Dr. Mary O’ Penetrante, Project Team Lead from CPU, noted that waste issues differ across communities, and the new platform helps craft solutions based on actual needs rather than estimates. This data-driven approach supports more effective deployment of Material Recovery System equipment, better waste segregation, improved collection strategies, and more efficient diversion efforts.
The project also includes comprehensive digital training sessions for barangay leaders, equipping them to track, report, and improve their waste programs. This shift toward digital governance fosters more transparency, encourages active collaboration, and sets a foundation for long-term environmental management.
By January 2026, Project AGUBAY is expected to be fully turned over to the Iloilo City Government, ensuring continuity beyond the grant period. With barangays gradually building digital literacy and integrating the system into their routine operations, the initiative may serve as a model for other Philippine cities searching for sustainable, tech-driven waste solutions.
Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines affirmed its commitment to supporting improved waste collection, sorting, and recycling systems through community partnerships—an effort aligned with broader environmental sustainability goals.
For more on Coca-Cola’s sustainability programs, visit its official website.
