By Nimfa L. Estrellado Toyota, local government, and volunteers team up in Unisan, Quezon, for a massive mangrove planting initiative, putti...
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| Toyota, local government, and volunteers team up in Unisan, Quezon, for a massive mangrove planting initiative, putting the company's 'Go Local' strategy into practice. (TessDrive) |
UNISAN, Quezon — Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) mobilized its network of volunteers to plant 13,000 mangrove seedlings in Unisan, Quezon, on October 4. This activity completed the company's CALABARZON coverage and significantly advanced its ambitious goal to plant one million trees by 2030 under the 'All Toyota Green Wave Project'.
TMP President Masando Hashimoto spearheaded the initiative at the final National Greening Program (NGP) site for the region, officially adopting the site. This key action finalizes TMP's commitment to ecosystem restoration in the said five-province region.
In his address, President Hashimoto thanked the local community for their support and hospitality after the long travel required to reach the area. He acknowledged the location's natural beauty, noting Unisan is a "refreshing escape" from the city.
"To mark 10 years of this project, I'm proud to announce TMP's commitment to plant one million trees by 2030. While Quezon is the final stop in CALABARZON, their larger one-million-tree challenge continues nationwide," he said.
He emphasized that the project’s success relies on the sustained collaboration of local communities, government partners, and the dedication of the Toyota volunteer network, highlighting the need for local ownership to ensure the long-term survival of the planted mangroves.
"I can imagine myself taking bicycle loops around this beautiful nature of Quezon Province, and it reminds us all why we must protect these environments. Every tree planted here is a step toward securing a sustainable and greener future for the next generation of Filipinos."
Toyota Motor Philippines mobilized a diverse volunteer group for the effort, including TMP team members, dealers, the local government, and DENR representatives. This collaborative approach, which involves external partners, scales the company's climate action beyond simple carbon reduction.
TMP's localized "Go Local" strategy focuses on supporting unique Philippine ecosystems like the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and a protected marine area between Luzon and Mindoro (the Verde Island Passage). To date, TMP adopted a total of 108 hectares across upland and coastal areas in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
The Unisan site is part of Tayabas Bay, a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) with the third-longest coastline in the Philippines. TMP views mangrove forests here as a crucial dual solution, shielding against storm surges while enhancing achieving a net-zero impact on the climate by naturally storing carbon dioxide.
In partnership with the DENR, TMP officially adopted 20 hectares of the Unisan coastal area. They committed to plant 50,000 mangroves over five years, engaging local organizations to provide income and sustain fisherfolk livelihoods.
Simultaneous with the planting, two-time Paralympic swimmer and Global Team Toyota Athlete, Ernie Gawilan, led a coastal clean-up. Gawilan, known for becoming the Philippines' first gold medalist at the Asian Para Games, champions clean waters and inclusivity.
The month-long campaign with the nationwide dealer network sets out to surpass last year’s efforts. In December 2024, Gawilan spearheaded a similar initiative in his hometown of Samal, Davao del Norte, resulting in over 10,000 seedlings planted and 700 bags of trash collected.
This commitment to action finds its roots in the organization's history: The All Toyota Green Wave Project, launched in 2015, promotes ecosystem restoration. It addresses the Toyota Global Environmental Challenge 6: Establishing a Future Society in Harmony With Nature.
The company's effort to go "BEYOND ZERO" represents its ambition to create a net positive environmental impact. Since 2016, the TMP network contributed significantly to this effort, planting 142,050 trees nationwide.
Building on this extensive foundation, the commitment to plant one million trees expands TMP’s climate action beyond manufacturing to projects that increase local environmental health and funding projects that reduce carbon elsewhere to balance their own pollution. This aggressive goal involves increasing annual targets and adopting new sites nationwide to enhance biodiversity conservation.
Following the planting, volunteers participated in a bird watching activity led by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. This activity recorded avian species and assessed the area's interconnected biodiversity, closing the day's activities.
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