The Iloilo City Government has teamed up with the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines and Central Philippine University (CPU) to launch Project AGUBAY, a new digital system aimed at improving waste management across 180 barangays.
The data-driven Solid Waste Management Information System (SWM-IS) will create a centralized platform to generate real-time reports, helping barangays and the city government track waste, update programs, and make better decisions.
Iloilo City produces over 314 metric tons of waste daily, with nearly 40 percent plastic. City waterways and coastal areas have long suffered from pollution due to single-use plastics, weak collection systems, and non-functional recovery facilities.
“By investing in digital tools and community empowerment, Project AGUBAY shows how collaboration between business, academia, and local government can turn sustainability goals into real, on-the-ground progress,” said Cecile Alcantara, president of the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines.
The project will also provide barangays with materials recovery system equipment to improve waste segregation, collection, and recycling. According to Dr. Mary O’ Penetrante of CPU, the system allows barangays to track waste in real time, design solutions that fit their specific needs, and increase accountability.
Barangay officials can now report their waste programs electronically, while the city’s General Services Office can respond more quickly to local needs. Project AGUBAY is expected to be fully handed over to the Iloilo City Government by January 2026, with potential for adoption in other cities as barangays improve digital literacy and adapt the system locally.
