Barangay Tejeros is recognized as the top-performing barangay at the Tapon to Ipon Fiesta awarding ceremony, honoring collective effort and barangay-led action toward proper waste segregation.
Barangay Tejeros in Makati City has emerged as the top-performing community in Coca-Cola Philippines’ Barangay Tapon to Ipon initiative, showing how a shared commitment to recycling can evolve into a lasting grassroots movement. More than just a contest victory, the recognition highlighted how collective action among residents, local leaders, youth volunteers, and sari-sari store owners can strengthen waste segregation, deepen community participation, and make environmental responsibility part of everyday life.
The celebration was marked by an awarding ceremony at the Barangay Tejeros basketball court, which transformed into a festive gathering filled with games and community activities. For Tejeros, the win carried added meaning. After finishing second in the previous year’s run, the barangay returned with greater determination and stronger participation, ultimately claiming the top spot and underscoring the power of sustained community effort.
Barangay Tapon to Ipon is Coca-Cola Philippines’ annual nationwide recycling program mounted in partnership with barangays, local officials, and neighborhood sari-sari stores. Designed to encourage the proper collection and segregation of PET bottles, the initiative also supports local communities in implementing Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, while helping build long-term recycling habits at the barangay level.
This year, 20 barangays across Metro Manila joined the friendly competition, each rallying residents to take part in collection efforts and strengthen local recycling practices. Barangay Tejeros led the field after collecting nearly 40,000 PET bottles, equivalent to 698 kilograms. Barangay 114 in Caloocan City placed second with around 21,000 bottles or 375 kilograms, while Barangay Moonwalk in Parañaque City finished third with 17,000 bottles or 310 kilograms.
Barangay Chairman Wilfredo S. Leonardo said the community’s strong showing was driven by the visible impact of the program and the shared desire to improve on last year’s finish. “Noong nakaraang taon po, second place lang kami. Siyempre, gusto na naming maging number one. Kaya nang dumating ang pagkakataong ito, sinabi ko talaga sa mga kasamahan ko na gagawin namin ang lahat para makuha ang number one,” Leonardo said. “Pinasasalamatan po namin ang Coca-Cola sa patuloy na pagpili sa’ming barangay upang maging bahagi ng programang ito. Kaya inalagaan at sinuportahan namin nang husto ang aming pagsali dito.”
Along with the recognition, Barangay Tejeros received 10 Coca-Cola stools made from recycled plastic, a Barangay Tapon to Ipon tent, Coca-Cola beverages for community events, and a Premium Linis Barangay Kit containing cleaning and safety supplies. These incentives, the barangay said, will be integrated into existing programs as it continues to encourage households and sari-sari stores to stay active in the campaign.
For Coca-Cola Philippines, the initiative forms part of a broader sustainability and collection effort that now includes more than 6,000 collection points nationwide. Bottles gathered through these programs are directed to PETValue Philippines in General Trias, Cavite, the country’s first food-grade bottle-to-bottle recycling facility. There, used PET bottles are processed into recycled PET or rPET, which can then be turned into new food-grade beverage bottles.
“Programs like Barangay Tapon to Ipon foster the spirit of bayanihan, bringing communities together to achieve a shared goal,” said Tony Del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and Vice President for Franchise Operations East of Coca-Cola Far East Limited. “By making recycling fun and engaging, we help barangays build a culture of sustainability, where collective action at the grassroots creates ripple effects that can help strengthen recycling practices in communities across the country.”
With Barangay Tejeros setting the pace, the latest run of Barangay Tapon to Ipon showed that recycling can be more than an environmental duty. It can also become a source of pride, unity, and lasting community transformation, as Coca-Cola Philippines continues working with local partners to turn everyday action into responsible waste management habits for the long term.