Yokohama Tire PH turns 25 by giving back to communities

MANILA: Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) celebrates its 25^th anniversary by giving back to its neighboring communities.

YTPI will be donating tires for the emergency service vehicles of the communities in the plant’s vicinity as part of its support to the local health unit’s COVID-19 and emergency response. The tire manufacturing company will also give away printing materials to nearby public schools that are under the modular learning system.

In a statement, YTPI President and Chief Executive Officer Tetsuya Nagao said, “YTPI has come so far in the past 25 years. I am humbled and grateful for the support the company and our team have received over the years.  Despite the global pandemic, I feel blessed that we have grown YTPI into a business that can give back.”

Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd. (YRC) established YTPI in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 25 years ago. It is the first Yokohama tire manufacturing facility in Asia outside Japan. YTPI manufactured the first S-760 passenger tire model two years after its inception.

In 2003, YTPI opened its Phase II expansion, which helped increase production to 10,000 tires per day. After two years, the company began the construction of the Phase III expansion that ramped up production by 70%. In 2008, YTPI was able to set a record by manufacturing 22,000 tires in a day. In 2011, the company started the construction of the West Plant, which increased the plant’s total land area from 16.5 hectares to 44.7 hectares. The last phase of YTPI’s West Plant expansion was completed in 2014. YTPI now manufactures 27,000 tires per day and employs over 3,000 staff.

YTPI had also faced challenges in its business over the years. In 2017, the YTPI East Plant-Phase 3 was gutted by a fire. In the same year, the company began the reconstruction of the damaged plant. By June 2018, production partially resumed. Despite the unfortunate event, YTPI was able to manufacture its 100,000,000^th tire in 2018.

“Credit goes to every diligent employee who gave his/her all day in and day out,” Nagao stated. “Their commitment and dedication to build quality tires that people can trust can only be matched with an unquenchable thirst for success.”

YTPI has also proven its quality and excellence over the years. In 1998, the tire manufacturer received ISO 9001 certification for the Quality Management System. It also obtained an ISO 14001 certification for the Environmental Management System in 2000. In 2010, the company received the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001) certification. These certifications prove that YTPI manufactures its tires in accordance with international standards of quality and safety.

As an eco-friendly company, YTPI includes corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship in its mission. It has managed the expansion of the Forever Forest, a global initiative of YRC. More than 44,000 trees have been planted within the facility and nearby areas since YTPI became involved in the project.

In 2019, YTPI installed its own 4MW solar power rooftop as part of its sustainability efforts. It is the largest rooftop solar plant in Central Luzon and the second largest in the country. YTPI considers this as one of the company’s biggest environmental milestones as it has significantly reduced the annual CO2 emissions of Clark Freeport Zone. The company has also constructed a 1,020-m³ rainwater recovery tank to collect rain water for industrial purposes.

In partnership with the local communities, YTPI also provided scholarship grants to almost a hundred college students. It also donated sanitation facilities to public schools and participated in Brigada Eskwela. In 2016, the tire manufacturer donated P1 million worth of materials for the rehabilitation of the water system that supplies potable water to indigenous families in San Vicente, Tarlac. YTPI is conscious on its impact in all facets of society, including economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Due to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, YTPI has introduced The New Normal: Together We Can Beat This Better protocols and programs to guarantee the safety of its employees. The company continues to contribute to the economic development of the country by creating job opportunities, paying taxes dutifully, and generating profit through fair business activities.

“I want to congratulate all our former and current employees on this special milestone. It has been a wonderful journey altogether. Let’s continue to defy the odds and hope for the best in the coming years,” Nagao added.

YTPI will also be conducting a social media project that will feature some of the people behind the success of the company and a photo exhibit that will showcase the company’s biggest milestones.

The company will also be hosting several in-house activities to build camaraderie among its employees. These include a board design contest, an online gaming contest, and the launch of an informative video series. On the anniversary launch and culmination day, employees will receive custom-made insulated bags and free food.

Photos from Yokohama Tire Philippines

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