JRT Foundation’s Hapag Kalinga Program Provides Food Support for Coolaire Employees

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — JRT Foundation, the charitable arm of Coolaire Consolidated Inc. (Coolaire), distributed over close to 1,000 kilograms of fresh vegetables to Coolaire employees through its Hapag Kalinga Program as part of its commitment to promoting employee welfare.

Launched in 2021, the Hapag Kalinga Program converted vacant lots within Coolaire’s production plants in Bulacan into urban vegetable gardens, with its harvested produce then donated to the company’s employees.

The program also integrates environmental sustainability through its use of traditional and hydroponic gardening methods. In fact, a fourth of the lot runs a soil-free hydroponic system that allows the program to maximize its limited space. Most importantly, the entire garden is constructed using 100% recycled materials.

The gardens annually produce a variety of vegetables: eggplants, tomatoes, lettuce, Chinese kangkong, pechay, and ginger, among others. Last year, over 100 kilograms of these vegetables were harvested.

Jasmin Ligutan, a Sales Executive at Coolaire for six years, shares how receiving kilos of pechay significantly helped her daily expenses.

“It really helps in lessening costs and it’s nutritious too, especially for my two-year-old baby,” affirmed Ligutan.

Moving forward, the Hapag Kalinga Program plans to expand its promotion of sustainable food production in schools and other communities. This includes training in traditional gardening, hydroponics, and composting, alongside conducting feeding programs for selected beneficiaries.

Coolaire, through the JRT Foundation, strongly champions a decent workplace through food security. This is largely part of its dedication to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

At the heart of this advocacy is the company’s belief in its people being the sustaining force behind its success. Thus, Coolaire through the JRT Foundation carries out initiatives like the Hapag Kalinga Program to improve their lives and provide for their needs.

Written by Raf Perez Inguito