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Gov't, Coca-Cola tie up to provide clean water to water-scarce communities

MANILA, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- A subsidiary of beverage firm Coca-Cola Company has committed technical and funding support for the installation of water access technology to water-scarce communities in the country over the next four years.

Coca-Cola Far East, Ltd (CCFEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Agriculture (DA) wherein the former would provide water-poor communities access to clean water under its Coca-Cola Agos project.

“(This) will serve as the means to help achieve CCFEL’s water replenishment commitments and the DA’s promotion of small farmers’ development,” said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.

Under the MOU, the DA will identify the beneficiaries through the Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD), a project intended to increase food production and alleviate poverty in the 10 provinces.

The CCFEL, for its part, will assist the DA in the social preparation and capacity-building of the community in terms of maintaining the water facility, proper caring for the natural water resource environment, and organizing water association.

The community beneficiaries will come from the country’s 10 marginalized provinces that have existing natural sources of water that are difficult to access for agricultural use.

“We need to have good farmers who are willing to organize a water association; willing to undergo various capacity-building and trainings; and willing to participate in any post-project evaluation and documentation activities,” Piñol said.

The agriculture chief said a team from the DA will work closely with CCFEL to provide technical expertise all throughout the project implementation. (PNA)

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