UN CSW Spotlights Coca-Cola Philippines Initiatives for Womens Advancement

At the session of the United Nations Commission, on the Status of Women (UN CSW) in New York from March 11 to 22 two projects backed by Coca Cola Philippines received attention for their efforts in advancing women’s economic empowerment. These initiatives demonstrate Coca Cola’s commitment, to empowering women through offering them business skills, financial support and building communities.

The featured projects include the iSTAR program, a training and resource access initiative, for Sari Sari Stores in the Philippines. It was created in cooperation with TESDA and six known civil society groups. Furthermore the TEM program, the Balik PET Bottle Program was carried out in partnership, with BEST and PASCO to showcase collaborations that leverage technology to empower women economically.

The UN Commission, on the Status of Women (CSW) the meeting organized by the UN to promote women’s rights and highlight the challenges faced by women worldwide served as a forum for exploring how promoting gender equality and empowering women can be advanced through tackling poverty and improving institutions and funding from a gender perspective. Delegates from UN member nations, agencies and recognized governmental organizations from, around the globe took part in this fortnight long gathering.

iSTAR, the ongoing online enterprise of Coke’s long-time STAR project established by Coca-Cola Philippines and TESDA, aims to create a conducive platform for women entrepreneurs to grow and prosper.

iSTAR venture had an online platform launched in 2020 with a focus on addressing some of the challenges to women in business which include limited access to mentors and resources and limited training. An example of success story is the case of Marife Hilario, an iSTAR graduate of Nueva Ecija who could earn a great amount, over P15, 000 a month, after the postsacross program.

The iSTAR project not only reached the 100,000 mark 10 to 15 months earlier than the 2025 deadline, but also empowered at least 150,000 micro-entrepreneurs throughout the country. Available free everywhere, iSTAR teaches micro-entrepreneurs digital skills, otherwise online, on which they can capitalize using various online styles to bring about business growth and sustenance.

 A common act carried out by six civil society entities developing in a countrywide district, iSTAR has been acknowledged with its transformed influence. While in 2022, during the iSTAR program, there were individual entrepreneurs who managed to take the knowledge and establish their own cooperative which is known as a PASCO Producers Cooperative in 2023. Entrusting each other's competencies, they started a local grocery store and at the same time, the catering business in Muntinlupa City. Consequently, each member of the cooperative has a monthly minimum income of PHP 5,000 thus; the combined amount of earnings by each member is two-fold, with the added earnings coming from their individual micro-retail enterprises.

Using the TEM campaign as the medium, Coca-Cola Philippines has facilitated retailers advance their earnings and promoted environmental awareness. Through bolstering digital skills, the program ensures involvement of owner operators and MSMEs operators who can serve as drop-off points for empty plastic bottles.

TEM collection bins being put at the front of sari-sari stores and carinderias will gives customers and disposal of their water and soft drinks bottles and tin cans an opportunity of recycling. The initiative is not only about the decrease in the amount of plastic waste and pollution but also we are putting starting micro-retailers on priority and giving them incentives for being environmentally friendly as well as recycling plastic, thus for example giving them points they can spend for cashback and products and so enhance their businesses. We take care in curbing at least ten of the twenty tins used before its packaging to a much lesser fraction.

The program has over 2,900 TEM members nationwide, with recent expansion to Bacolod City, through partnerships with stakeholders including BEST, PASCO and the City Government. By the "ask me to recycle by" consumer interaction campaign and Coca-Cola Philippines Sustainability Hub, smart consumers are educated and motivated to participate in recycling initiatives, which intersect at the company's global vision of collecting and recycling every bottle or can because it sold by 2030.