Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) kicked off its shift towards renewable energy with the lighting up of a solar-powered Christmas tree at its plant in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City, Wednesday evening, Dec. 3.
It was held along with the switch-on of the Solar Rooftop PV Plant of PCPPI Bacolod.
“Across all 11 Pepsi plants in the Philippines, we are installing 8.34 megawatts of solar capacity enough to cover 14 percent of Pepsi Philippines’ total power consumption,” PCPPI President and CEO Phyo Phyu Noe said.
The Bacolod plant is the first to go solar as part of their shift toward renewable energy and sustainability, he said.
“We are doing this because companies like ours do not get to sit on the sidelines, not in a country this vulnerable to climate change,” Noe said.
“We are just getting started. The solar panels rising across the country are the first step in the larger transformation toward cleaner operations, more resilient plants, and a company that honors its obligations to the environment,” he said.
He said the Christmas tree powered by solar energy represents something deeper; it reflects a shift in how PCPPI operates.
Noe, EEI Power Corp. Assistant Vice President Andrew Zapanta Jr., and Patrick Lacson, who represented Mayor Greg Gasataya, led the lighting of the Christmas tree and switch-on of the PCPPI Bacolod Plant’s solar rooftop system.
“Our collaboration is built on a shared vision: to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and create solutions that are both economically sound and environmentally responsible,” Zapanta said.
From an economic perspective, this investment is strategic, he also said.
“By harnessing solar energy, Pepsi Cola Products will significantly reduce its dependence on traditional power sources, leading to lower electricity costs and improved operational efficiency,” Zapanta said.
Equally important are the environmental benefits, he said, pointing out that the solar PV plant will reduce carbon emissions, minimize reliance on fossil fuels, and contribute to cleaner air for the community.
“Every kilowatt-hour generated from the sun is a step toward mitigating climate change and preserving our planet for future generations,” Zapanta said.*