MILO® Accelerates Grassroots Sports Efforts, Aims to Engage 3 Million in 2025

Manila, Philippines, 18 November 2024 – MILO® Philippines is set to ramp up its efforts to engage more children into active play through its grassroots sports programs. After reaching more than two million children during its 60^th milestone year in 2024, MILO® plans to engage three million Filipino kids in 2025, aiming to provide them with more avenues to start their champion journey and forge a path towards success through sports.

“Every young Filipino has the right to grow and be successful, and sports has a unique power to teach them grit, discipline and teamwork,” said Veronica Cruz, SVP and Business Executive Officer of Beverages and Confectionary, Nestlé Philippines. “MILO is finishing its 60^th year strong, but we will welcome 2025 stronger. We look forward to nurture millions more and build a nation of active and healthy champions.”

Active play remains to be a pressing issue among young Filipinos. The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) reports that 84.6% of Filipino children and adolescents are not meeting the recommended physical activity levels, a trend worsened by increasingly sedentary lifestyles. This signals a significant concern for children, as physical activity is vital for promoting health and overall well-being.

Grassroots sports programs can play a crucial role in reversing this trend by opening more community and school-based sports initiatives and providing nourishing energy to inspire young Filipinos to explore sports and become future champions in sports and in life.

Building A More Active Pilipinas

In 2025, MILO® will scale its efforts to reach more families and kids nationwide through its Active Pilipinas program. Starting off with the National MILO® Marathon, the country’s longest-running marathon will make its way to 25 cities across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Meanwhile, MILO® will expand its presence to 400 barangays next year, totaling to more than 1,200 barangays reached nationwide in the past 3 years, with the MILO® Barangay Liga, an inter-community league tournament. The MILO® Sports Clinics is set to facilitate 1,200 clinics across more than 20 sports to teach more children not just fundamental skills but also character-forming values that can shape them into well-rounded individuals.

The expansion of MILO® grassroots sports programs are made possible by the vast support from communities and institutions after reaching more than two million children in 2024. “This milestone would not be possible if it weren’t for our indispensable partners from the government, institutions and sports organizations. We will remain steadfast in our mission to creating a lasting impact to develop grassroots sports,” said Cruz.

In addition to its flagship sports programs, MILO® also strengthened its support for people from all walks of life, including Indigenous Peoples, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Women in Sports, made possible by its close collaboration with the Philippine Sports Commission. Furthermore, MILO® aims to address a pervasive issue in drowning with its MILO® Safe Swim initiative in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross. An exciting inter-school tournament is also in the works, providing student-athletes across the country a stage to showcase their athletic mettle and inspire more children to embrace sports.

Grassroots sports play a vital role in a child’s development. For children to thrive in active lifestyles, balanced nutrition is essential. With this in mind, MILO® has developed a formula designed to support kids’ energy needs, helping them engage fully in sports and play. By providing nourishing energy, MILO® hopes to encourage more children to discover their potential and develop determination succeed in all areas of life.

For more information, visit the official MILO® website (http://www.MILO®®.com.ph), and follow the official MILO® Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MILO®®.ph), TikTok (@MILOphilippines) and Instagram (@MILOPhilippines) pages.