Nestlé Lipa factory adopts waste mgm’t program

Lipa Mayor Vilma Santos-Recto announced recently to a group of local business and government leaders that the Nestlé Lipa Factory will make Bagong-Pook, where the factory which manufactures MILO and breakfast cereals is located, a model barangay for solid waste management in support of the city government’s long-term Solid Waste Management Program (SWM). The announcement was made at a recent breakfast meeting held at the Nestlé Lipa Learning Center to officially kick off the city government’s SWM Program for the Industrial Sector.

Expressing her administration’s serious intent over the citywide program, Mayor Santos-Recto thanked Nestlé for sharing its best practices in SWM, which she said will better equip the city government to handle the SWM program. Nestle Philippines’ Corporate Environmental Services Head Jess Reyes presented the various initiatives of Nestlé Philippines as a first step in sharing best practices.

The mayor, who led the Lipa business leaders in signing commitments to support the program, emphasized the importance of the business community’s involvement. "This program is not for me, but for the people of Lipa. We have a responsibility to take good care of our environment. This is a long-term commitment," she said.

The affair was attended by DENR EMB CALABARZON Regional Director Luciano Hornilla and City Administrator Pedrito Martin Dijan, Jr. who thanked Nestlé for being Lipa’s partner in community development. "Ang Nestlé laging kabalikat ng Lipa. Hindi lang nito natutulungan ang administration ni Mayor Vi, ito rin ang isa sa pinakamagaling na negosyo dito sa Lipa."

Factory Manager Nes Mercado, who responded on behalf of the participating companies, highlighted the importance of employee involvement, top management commitment, and sharing of best practices in the success of any SWM program. "The Nestlé experience has taught us that programs like these can only be successful if the employees are involved and committed in making them happen. It is important that they understand why proper solid waste management has to be done, and equip them with ways to do it. Our employees can truly make a difference in solid waste management not only by practicing what they know at work and in their homes, but also by assuming a more proactive role in influencing their friends and neighbors to practice SWM."