Toyota PH donates PHP 3 million to support Tamaraw conservation in Mindoro

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP), through its social and humanitarian arm, Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMP Foundation), donates PHP 3 million to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) to support the continued conservation and protection of the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) on Mindoro Island.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between TMP Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Tamaraw Conservation Program Office (DENR-TCPO), and the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (MBCFI) during the 2026 Tamaraw Fiesta in Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro, held in celebration of the annual “Special Month for the Conservation and Protection of Tamaraw in Mindoro.”

During the donation ceremony, TMP Foundation Operations Manager Nelson Manglo (center) turns over the PHP 3-million donation to the Tamaraw Conservation Program — received by DENR-MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Felix Mirasol, Jr. (left) and witnessed by MBCFI Executive Director Kathy Lene Cielo (right) — with MBCFI serving as the designated fund manager.

The PHP 3-million conservation fund will support key TCP initiatives, including habitat monitoring and scientific research, capacity-building programs for Barangay and Indigenous Peoples (IP) volunteers, Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) activities, and the enhancement of the Tamaraw Research and Conservation Center. A significant portion of the donation will be used to equip the facility with research and monitoring equipment that will strengthen conservation efforts and support the long-term protection of the species.

The donation builds on the partnership established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the DENR and TMP Foundation, coinciding with the launch of Next Generation Tamaraw in December 2024. Since then, TMP has supported the TCP through various initiatives aimed at strengthening on-the-ground conservation efforts.

In 2025, TMP donated a Tamaraw utility vehicle to support TCP’s mobility requirements and field operations on Mindoro Island, along with PHP500,000 worth of ‘Bantay Tamaraw’ kits to equip rangers in conducting patrol, monitoring, and protection activities in known Tamaraw habitats.

The Tamaraw Research and Conservation Center will be enhanced and equipped through the PHP3 million donation.

As the namesake of Toyota’s iconic utility vehicle, the Tamaraw holds a special significance for the company. As TMP approaches its three-millionth cumulative vehicle sales milestone, its continued support for Tamaraw conservation reflects the company’s commitment to giving back to society and communities that have supported its growth over the past 38 years.

 Moreover, the partnership underscores Toyota’s broader commitment under the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 (TEC 2050), particularly to the challenge of ‘Establishing a Society in Harmony with Nature’ through biodiversity conservation and nature positive initiatives.

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a small, critically endangered wild buffalo native only to the island of Mindoro.

The support comes as the TCP reports continued gains in population recovery. The 2026 Annual Tamaraw Population Count records 425 Tamaraws in Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park, up from 380 in 2025. The DENR attributes the increase to sustained conservation measures, including habitat protection, scientific monitoring, law enforcement, and community participation.

As conservation efforts continue to deliver positive results, TMP and TMP Foundation remain committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the protection of the Tamaraw.

 

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