TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) recently led its 1,900 volunteers for its very first Start Your Impossible initiative by conducting a national coastal cleanup and mangrove planting campaign.
The event was spread in 35 locations in different parts of the Philippines.
Held in partnership with TMP’s dealership network—nongovernmental organization, local government partners and various coastal communities all over the Philippines, the volunteers were able to plant 40,000 mangrove propagules and collect 1,200 sacks of waste by the end of the activity.
“If we continue doing these small acts for our environment, soon our big vision of building sustainable communities will become possible,” said TMP president Satoru Suzuki during the opening program at Lian Mangrove Park in Batangas.
Difference
The coastal cleanup and mangrove planting activity was part of the Start Your Impossible initiative, which is Toyota’s global movement that enables and empowers people to move past challenges and defy limits in order to reach their goals and make a difference in society.
In the Philippines, Toyota’s Start Your Impossible movement was inspired by Filipino champion para-athlete Ernie Gawilan, who has been advocating for cleaner oceans.
Gawilan, his fellow para-athlete Edwin Villanueva and his team from the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) joined the activity in Batangas.
With the event, TMP is helping Gawilan bring his advocacy all over the county.
TMP mobilized its employees and dealership network to conduct cleanup and mangrove planting activities in coastal areas of Metro Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, Rizal, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Ilocos Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Mindoro, Negros Oriental, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Bukidnon, Davao, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Lanao Del Norte and South Cotabato.
“Wag po tayong magsawang tulungan yung mundo natin (We should not get tired of helping our world),” Gawilan said. “Maraming salamat kasi may mga tao pang nagpapahalaga sa kalikasan (I feel grateful because there are still people who value the environment).”
Locally launched in November 2018 during the Toyota Classics, TMP had accomplished numerous projects under Start Your Impossible initiative.
To support the country’s paralympic athletes, the proceeds of the classical benefit concert was donated to Filipino para-athletes through the PPC for their training requirements such as sports wheelchairs.
In January 2019, TMP also donated a 29-seater coaster to help transport the para-athletes. Five months later, TMP started a 10-day swim clinic, aiming to encourage aspiring swimmers aged six to 14 to take the first step in their athletic journey.
TMP is looking forward to more programs and projects in the areas of environmental protection, sports and youth development, and overall sustainable mobility. (S)