Toyota leads 1,900 coastal cleanup volunteers

The volunteers were able to plant 40,000 mangrove propagules and collect 1,200 sacks of waste.

TMP president Satoru Suzuki leads in planting mangrove propagules.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently led 1,900 volunteers from across 35 locations nationwide for its very first “Start Your Impossible” National Coastal Cleanup and Mangrove Planting weekend.

In partnership with TMP’s dealership network, NGO and LGU partners, as well as, various coastal communities all over the country, the volunteers were able to plant 40,000 mangrove propagules and collect 1,200 sacks of waste by the end of the activity.

“With each and every volunteer cleaning up the coasts and planting mangrove seedlings, all spread out across 35 locations nationwide, we are indeed starting our impossible, one place at a time. If we continue doing these small acts for our environment, soon our big vision of building sustainable communities will become possible,” TMP president Satoru Suzuki stated during the opening program at Lian Mangrove Park, in Batangas.

The activity is part of “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 campaign is inspired by Filipino champion para-athlete Ernie Gawilan who, as someone who grew up and honed his swimming skills in a coastal community in Davao, has been advocating for cleaner oceans. Gawilan, together with fellow para-athlete Edwin Villanueva and his team from the Philippine Paralympic Committee joined the activity in Batangas.

With this event, TMP is helping Gawilan spread his advocacy all over the country. TMP mobilized its employees and dealership network to conduct cleanups and mangrove planting in coastal areas of Metro Manila and the following provinces: 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.