Communities in Palawan collected more than 70,000 used bottles in six months through Ginebra San Miguel Inc.’s (GSMI) BOTEful Philippines program, marking the highest collection since the initiative started in 2017.
The campaign covered 21 barangays in Brooke’s Point and Narra, bringing the program’s total nationwide collection to over 240,000 bottles. Barangay Tubtub in Brooke’s Point recorded the highest number of bottles collected with 11,489.
Collected bottles are returned to GSMI for reuse or recycling into new bottles. The program encourages residents to gather empty bottles from homes, public areas and collection points to help reduce glass waste in landfills, waterways and coastal communities.
GSMI said wider community participation is important to ensure bottles are properly collected and recycled instead of being discarded.
BOTEful Philippines is part of the sustainability efforts of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and San Miguel Foundation (SMF), which aim to promote waste reduction, recycling and resource recovery through community partnerships.
The program began in Aparri in 2017 and has since expanded to Batanes, Pangasinan, Negros Occidental, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila and Palawan. The Palawan leg was launched in September 2025 with support from local partners and barangays.
SMC chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said the strong response in Palawan showed the impact of community support in making the program successful. He added that returned bottles can still be reused or recycled, while discarded bottles become waste.
Residents and participating barangays received incentives for collected bottles, including points redeemable for selected San Miguel Food and Beverage products.
GSMI said the initiative also supports government solid waste management efforts by encouraging communities to take an active role in recycling and reducing waste.
