MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos
Bohol Sunday Post

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Incorporated-Tagbilaran Branch, has long been a landmark in Tagbilaran City. Despite the sprouting of several edifices, a very positive sign of economic progress, the Coca-Cola building continue to catch attention. Even its regular siren has become a staple time update for all local inhabitants.

Through the years, the Coca-Coal plant has undergone many changes. There was a time when it bottled San Miguel Beer. With the influx of time came the variation of Managers, all of them guided by the tenets of good management. But even if the same guidelines are observed, leadership varies with the personality of the one at the helm.

Being involved with a lot of projects as a professional and an organization man, I have known the local Managers of Coca-Cola sine 1970. All these years the beverage company has been at the forefront in its benevolence and philanthropy.

Big events in Tagbilaran City and Bohol Province, whether public or private, always have Coca-Cola as a sponsor or benefactor. It has lived up to its name as an epitome of generosity up to this day.

Last Friday, February 7, for instance, Coca-Cola treated the members of BTMA (Bohol Tri-Media Association) to a very informative guided tour and sumptuous lunch, prior to the opening of a Bowling Tournament, which is also sponsored by the firm. Its efforts to be environment friendly is highly manifested by the facilities it has, including a water-treatment plant right inside the compound. We also learned that the Company spends P200, 000 every month just to haul and transport its waste water (clearly processed and safe) to a neared site in Barangay Taloto. The local plant is unionized; and labor and management relation is at its best. Being a multi-national company has always a distinct advantage.

Starting last year, Coca-Cola ceased being a sister Company of San Miguel Corporation. Coca-Cola Philippines is now directly linked to its main international headquarters in Atlanta City, Georgia. With the change in top Management came a number of changes. Physically, the local Plant looks and smells better than in the previous year. Renovations have rendered the offices rooms and lobby very comfortable. Even the lane leading to the production area is completely renovated, and every nook and cranny in the buildings are well-lighted and immaculately clean.

With the tremendous changes came a new Operations Manager, Mr. Luisito Pepito Ytol (LPY), an Electrical Engineer who finished his course at the University of Bohol. Approachable and accommodating, lighthearted as a next-door brother, Louise creates a good impression at first meeting. This interview took place inside his office, before lunch and a short getting-to-know you program which followed.

LMP: Can you tell us the difference between the management of Coca-Cola then and now?
LPY: Before, Sir, Coca-Cola was managed by San Miguel Corporation. Those years, medyo lisod ang atong ekonomiya and the company was still starting to grow. Daghan kaayo ta ug gihimo nga cost reduction programs; and we survived the competition. We all know nga daghan gyud ug ka-kompetensya ang soft drink industry.

LMP: Kinsa na ang nag-manage sa company now that it is separated from San Miguel Corp.?
LPY: 70 percent of the company's share to Coca-Cola which used to be with SMC is now owned back by the Atlanta Head Office. Direct gyud ang management sa Atlanta, Georgia.

LMP: Tua ba didto ang decision making?
LPY: Actually, ang among mga bosses karon mga Americans. The leaders here in the Philippines can decide, but when it comes to team decisions, they have to refer it to the main office.

LMP: What are the changes now because of the shift of management?
LPY: As a company, we have to make cost reduction in order to meet our standards. In doing so, ma-apektohan ang among mga existing projects like the repair of equipment and building. It affects also our operations. The good part is daghan ang mga na-promote.

LMP: I am speaking for the company I am working with, the Alturas Group of Companies. There was a time nga ang inyong promotions nausab. Coca- Cola used to be the major sponsor of the Alturas Drum and Bugle Showdown.
LPY: Coca Cola Atlanta took over February of last year. Negotiations can be made again for a win-win situation.

LMP: Hasta ang mga planta adunay mga changes?
LPY: In some functions, there were changes like our legislation in terms of distribution. Ang idea, kinahanglan mo-pattern sa idea sa owning company. Aside from that, the same lang gihapon ang uban.

LMP: How about compensation?
LPY: The same thing every year, may increase. We pay higher than the minimum wage.

LMP: Talking about your hiring process, naa ma moy HRD… What is the practice of the company as far as recruitment is concerned?
LPY: We advertised during our latest hiring. But right now, in our system, kon mo-advertise man gani, inside the plant lang. If the employees are qualified for the position, pwede sila mo-apply.

LMP: Nakamatikod man gud ko sa una, most of the people sa planta kon mo-retire na, moingon nga akong anak ang ipuli. Is it still present?
LPY: Wala na na karon. But honestly, that system has an edge man pod. If somebody inside gets the position, we are confident that performance is good.

LMP: Let's go to the operations. How many departments do you have in the company?
LPY: We have the HR, Finance, the Sales, Supply Chain which is composed of manufacturing, operation, and sales, which is in-charge of distributing the goods from the other plants in Manila and Cebu.

LMP: With the change in management, how does it affect the profit? Is it higher or na-retain lang?
LPY: Actually, right now dili pa gyud taas kaayo but fortunately, misaka ang atong sales because of the markets' support.

LMP: We saw ganina kadtong water treatment facilities, what good has it done as far as Coca Cola operations is concerned?
LPY: Actually in terms of savings or income, equal ra. Coca-Cola is a responsible company in that we are into the conservation of the environment. We are meeting all the standards of the DENR which is also equivalent to the standards of the company.

LMP: Let's talk about your products now. Aside from Coke, do you still have other drinks?
LPY: Mineral waters like Viva and Wilkins. Sa soft drinks, we have Coke, Sprite, Royal Tru Orange, Lift lemon, Jazz and Sparkle, Pop Cola and Sarsi.

LMP: Let's talk about competition. Your competitor Pepsi-Cola came out with a sugarless brand, Max. You, on the other hand, came out with Coca-Cola Zero. Was this an answer to the challenge given by the other side?
LPY: Consumers nowadays are becoming conscious about their health. That's why we don't create a brand just to kill the competitors' brand. We also have to align with the needs of the customers.

LMP: Are you fulfilled with what you have right now?
LPY: Yes. I could say that I'm successful and fruitful. Though the job requires a lot of pressure, it is very fulfilling.

LMP: Unsa ang imung mahimo as far as the company is concerned?
LPY: I only have big plans for the company nga nagbutang nako kon asa nako karon. There may be some other time I can exhaustively elaborate on them. But as of now my loyalty to Coca-Cola is one-hundred percent.

That Tagbilaran City is at par with the fastest developing cities in the country, is discernable through its infrastructure upsurge. Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. is in the frontline in this endeavor that is basically an initiative of the private sector, motivated by a public governance that believes in the synergy concept of progress.

Development should be multi-faceted. It is for this reason that other concerns have to addressed; like health, and personal well-being. Along this line, the local Coca-Cola administration has sponsored the annual BTMA Sportsfest, now on its second year. Engr. Louise P. Ytol is totally aware of this need for which reason he has this regular sportfests in his agenda. Even among his personnel and staff, regular sports activities are lined-up or a part of the health-care of his employees.

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