Members of the AEV and ACO Board of Directors (BOD) visited the Coca-Cola Canlubang Plant at the Silangan Industrial Estate in Calamba, Laguna, on February 25. The two-hour visit began with a safety briefing and an introduction to the facility, followed by a guided plant tour.

Joining the visit were AEV Independent Directors Joanne De Asis, Peter Maquera, and Cesar Romero and ACO Director Luis Miguel Aboitiz. They were accompanied by AEV senior executives Connie Chu, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer; Jose Emmanuel Hilado, AEV Chief Finance Officer; and John Rubio, AEV Chief Strategy Officer.

The delegation received a warm welcome from Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) senior management, led by President and CEO Gareth McGeown, alongside Frank Garcia, VP of Supply Chain; Johan Rolf, CFO; Chris Pesigan, VP of Commercial; Ann Santiago, VP of People; Winnie Rebancos, IT Director/CIO; Atty. Terence Fernando, General Counsel; Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tanada, PACS/Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Director; Arnold Alvarez, Manufacturing Director; and Zarahmie Trania, Canlubang Plant Manager.

Site visits such as this are a key component of the BOD's activities. It helps them gain firsthand insights into various opportunities and challenges faced by Aboitiz business units. They offer invaluable perspectives on how corporate strategies impact on-ground operations and guides them towards informed decision-making at the Board level.

By Gareth McGeown, President and CEO, Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines

The recent plant visit by the Board provided a valuable opportunity to demonstrate CCEAP's commitment to excellence across its operations. The visit also underscored the Board’s active involvement in understanding and supporting CCEAP as they continue to learn more about the operations and the beverage industry as a whole.

A key takeaway from the visit was the diverse expertise the Board brings from a variety of industries and markets. Members shared their perspectives on the acquisition, learnings from the past year, and confidence in the company's long-term growth and success. The Board was also notably impressed by the plant’s cleanliness which reflects the highest quality standards, as well as the efficient utilization of resources—maximizing assets to continue achieving more with less.

The true Coca-Cola Tiger Spirit—embodied by the plant teams who were filled with energy, confidence, and passion—stood out and made a lasting impression, highlighting the dedication that CCEAP associates bring to making and selling Coca-Cola's refreshing beverages every single day.

On behalf of all of us at CCEAP, we express our appreciation to the Board for their continued trust and support. We are proud of our strong partnership and shared commitment to excellence, which defines our operations and enables us to continue to win in the market.