MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Starbucks Philippines, The Starbucks Foundation, and Planet Water Foundation joined hands to build its third AquaTower in the Philippines at Talao-Talao Elementary School in Lucena, Quezon on October 11. The AquaTower is a community-level water filtration system that can deliver 1,000 liters of clean drinking water per hour and is equipped with six faucets and an integrated liquid soap dispenser that enables it to serve as a handwashing station. Through the company’s continued partnership with Planet Water Foundation, close to 1,800 students and teachers from the community will have access to clean, safe drinking water and handwashing stations.
Planet Water Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on alleviating the global water crisis across the Asia Pacific region and Latin America. Since 2011, The Starbucks Foundation has partnered with Planet Water Foundation to construct AquaTowers globally, including six markets across Asia Pacific, providing up to 73,800 people with access to clean water. In the Philippines, Starbucks partners (employees) have volunteered with Planet Water Foundation to construct three AquaTowers focusing on elementary schools in rural areas of the country.
Starbucks Philippines and its Partners in Action
Acting as community champions and in celebration of Global Handwashing Day, partners from Starbucks Philippines volunteered to build the AquaTower and engaged students in a one-day education program on handwashing and proper hygiene.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to provide clean water to the Talao-Talao Elementary School through our partnership with Planet Water Foundation,” shared Jamie Silva, the senior manager for marketing, digital customer experience & loyalty at Starbucks Philippines. “Interacting with the children and seeing how the AquaTower and hygiene education will positively impact this community, reaffirms our commitment to enhancing the well-being of all those who connect with Starbucks.”
Earlier this year, Starbucks Philippines also helped to build AquaTowers in Laguna at Talangka Elementary School in February and Nanguma Elementary School in August. These AquaTowers in the Philippines are part of more than 40 AquaTowers constructed globally to date in partnership with Planet Water Foundation through support from The Starbucks Foundation.
