To conserve and protect: car brands in PH and their conservation projects

Local players in the Philippine automotive industry have shown that they are passionate not only about improving mobility for the Filipino people but also about preserving our natural treasures.

As we celebrate World Conservation Day this month (July 28), let’s look at some of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives undertaken by some of the most popular names in the country’s automotive scene. 

Toyota 

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has been steadfast in its commitment to conserve the environment with multiple efforts run in the past years. 

As an example, the leading car brand in the Philippines has conducted a reforestation activity in 2022. The said initiative was aimed at protecting the Sierra Madre and Verde Island Passage. 

To be more specific, the local subsidiary of the Japanese automobile manufacturer adopted a block of upland forest in Siniloan, Laguna and mangrove forests in Calatagan, Batangas where the team planted 10,000 trees and 5,000 mangroves, respectively in the two areas. 

In 2024, TMP returned to Siniloan, Laguna to continue its reforestation activity. Together with a total of 56 volunteers, the company planted around 1,000 tree seedlings that are expected to boost the biodiversity of the location. 

Finally, TMP gave the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) a brand-new next-generation Toyota Tamaraw earlier this year, alongside P500,000 worth of “Bantay Tamaraw Kits,” and a P3-million conservation fund to support key program initiatives. 

The said light-duty commercial vehicle will support the agency’s Tamaraw conservation efforts. 

Mitsubishi 

As for the three-diamond car brand, it held a three-phased forestation project sometime in 2023. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) planted different species of trees on a 100-hectare plot of land across various provinces in Luzon, which we have listed below: 

• Bangui, Ilocos Norte
• Siniloan, Laguna
• Infanta, Quezon 

The tree planting activities on the abovementioned sites were part of a forestation agreement with the DENR. 

Last month, MMPC subsidiary Asian Transmission Corporation (ATC) participated in a massive forest preservation activity spearheaded by the Carmelray Industrial Corporation, together with the Provincial Government of Laguna Environment and Natural Resources Office. 

There, five ATC employees planted some 60 saplings on a one-hectare stretch of land. 

ACMobility 

Ayala-led ACMobility shared sometime last year that it will plant one tree for every BYD electric car it sells in the country.

During the announcement of the said initiative, the company noted that the trees will be planted in one of Ayala’s two carbon forests — in Bulacan and Davao. 

As of 2023, ACMobility’s ACRE Movement (which now includes BYD Cars Philippines) has already planted around 3,293 trees.

Honda 

Last year, Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated, through the Honda Foundation Incorporated (its four- and two-wheel CSR arm), has rolled out a tree planting activity in Siniloan, Laguna. 

The said effort was a product of the foundation’s five-year program to adopt some 28 hectares of the Sierra Madre Mountains under the DENR National Greening Program, which involves planting around 14,000 fruit-bearing trees in the area.

Additionally, Honda’s foundation formalized a partnership through a memorandum of agreement with DENR Region IV-A and the Magsaysay Coconut Farmers Association. 

Moreover, the brand participated in a river cleanup the same year which saw the marque collect a total of 240 kilograms (kg) of waste from the Siniloan River, including 75 kg of biodegradable waste, 150 kg of non-biodegradable waste, and 15 kg of residual waste.

Ford 

The premier American car brand in the Philippines also had several initiatives that aim to conserve natural resources in the country. 

In 2023, Ford Motor Company Philippines gathered employees and dealers to plant a total 1,975 native and fruit-bearing trees in Marikina Watershed in Rizal. Likewise, over 30 Ford Philippines personnel planted 5,000 seedlings Buhisan Watershed in Cebu.

The said program was run as part of the company’s partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress.

Honorable mentions

Peugeot Philippines, which was then still under Eurobrands Distributor Incorporated (in 2020), planted some 210 trees in a protected area at Sitio Suha, San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan.

The local wing of the French marque rolled out the project with its partners DENR and Briquettor Philippines. 

The idea was for Peugeot Philippines to plant three trees in a protected site near Angat Dam for every car sold. 

Going a little further back, Isuzu Philippines in 2017 promoted environmental awareness by partnering with car clubs. 

Participants were taken to the Makiling Botanic Gardens where they were given an orientation about the Makiling Forest Reserve. They also planted additional seedlings in the area. 

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