Country's 1st plant billboard launched

MANILA, Philippines -    Ever heard of a billboard that helps protect the environment?

The plant billboard, the first in the country, was made possible through the partnership of beverage giant Coca-Cola Philippines and environmental group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The 60x60-foot billboard located along EDSA-Forbes area, will use thriving species of Fukien tea plant , which is known to absorb air pollutants.

The plants are spread across the billboard with a space in the center in the shape of a Coca-Cola bottle.

Anthony Gao, a botanist who worked with Coca-Cola and WWF, said each plant could absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year on the average.

“This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, on estimate,” Gao said.

Guillermo Aponte, president and general manager of Coca-Cola Philippines, said it would be the first billboard in the country made from real plants.

“This billboard also makes use of recyclable materials. A total of 3,600 pots were used in the billboard, recycling old bottles of various Coca-Cola products,” he said.

Aponte said the soda bottles are filled with a potting mixture made up of a combination of industrial byproducts and organic fertilizers to make it stable and lightweight.

“These bottles were also designed to contain the plants securely and to allow the plants to grow sideways. Additional holes were made for proper drainage and for holding the drip lines in place,” Aponte said during the billboard’s unveiling yesterday.

Aponte also explained that a drip irrigation system, known as trickle irrigation or micro-irrigation, was especially installed for efficient water distribution.

“This irrigation method saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The system is operated on schedule to distribute water with nutrients to the plants. It provides the plants with what they need when they need it,” he said

Aponte said the billboard employs innovative eco-friendly mechanism for its significant advocacy.

“This (billboard) innovative contribution to the greening of the environment is a salient reminder for Filipinos to take an active hand in protecting and saving Mother Earth,” Aponte said.

“It’s an embodiment of our pledge to protect and preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of our ecological systems,” he said.

WWF president Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan said the billboard is more than just a project.

“It’s a celebration. This is a very good example of how corporations are doing their part in environment protection,” he said.

“We’re grateful for Coca-Cola Philippines’

commitment to a partnership with WWF, focusing on water stewardship and climate protection. Through these partnerships, we will work to help Coca-Cola achieve its ‘Live Positively’ environmental targets and strive together towards environmental sustainability in the Philippines,” he said.