FIGHTING CHANCE: Toyota, DENR collaborate to save tamaraw

The critically-endangered tamaraw, a rare dwarf buffalo, is Mindoro’s unique natural identity. But with fewer than 600 of these creatures left in the wild, its future hangs in the balance — a future that finds an ally in the form of an iconic automotive nameplate.

A unique but not unexpected partnership comes to life.

On 6 December 2024, Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMPF), the social and humanitarian arm of Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP), together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), announced a groundbreaking collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding to support Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP).

Beyond just conservation, this is a story of connections — between heritage, the automotive industry, and environmental initiatives.

For Toyota, this isn’t just philanthropy. Forty-eight years after its initial launch on Philippine soil in 1976, the Tamaraw name was etched into Filipino households as a dependable and versatile utility vehicle.

The Next Generation Tamaraw is a tribute to the spirit of Filipino craftsmanship. It is a deep respect for tradition and ingenuity.

What makes this partnership special isn’t just the return of the Tamaraw nameplate or its symbolic ties.

Toyota’s contribution of a brand-new Tamaraw vehicle for the program, half a million pesos worth of “Bantay Tamaraw” kits for ranger gears and supplies, and a P3 million conservation fund isn’t merely a gesture of corporate responsibility. It’s a declaration that saving this species is a shared duty.

Other key program initiatives include tamaraw habitat monitoring and research support programs for barangay and indigenous people volunteers, equipping of the Tamaraw Research and Conservation Center, and other Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) activities such as the national Tamaraw Month observation.

Rangers known as “Bantay Tamaraw,” conduct regular patrols at all known tamaraw sites, ensuring the survival of these iconic creatures.

Toyota’s support brings much-needed tools to its mission — ranger kits, research funds and outreach programs that don’t just protect the tamaraw but also empower the people and their communities who coexist with it.

The partnership brings attention to the fact that the tamaraw is more than just an animal. It is a symbol of the grit and ingenuity of the Filipino people.

Much like the Tamaraw vehicle, which has evolved over decades to meet the needs of the modern world, the conservation effort adapts, finding strength in collaboration between industries, governments and everyday citizens.

As TMP president Masando Hashimoto said: Gawang Pilipino para sa Pilipinas.

TMP’s third completely knocked down model. The localization of this game-changing vehicle means a lot for the local automotive and parts manufacturers.

It also speaks of volume in terms of the countless jobs it supports and the boundless opportunities it creates through mobility for many sectors, including the Philippine MSMEs.

His words echo the spirit of a nation that takes pride in its creations and responsibilities. This is not just about preserving an endangered species. It’s about ensuring that today’s and the next generations inherit a world where there is a harmonious coexistence with the tamaraw and its habitat.

Toyota’s journey with the tamaraw is a full-circle moment.

A name borrowed for a versatile Asian Utility Vehicle to inspire resilience and strength now comes back to inspire hope and action in the wild. Together, TMP, the DENR, TMPF and countless individuals are writing the next chapter of the tamaraw’s story — a story of survival, pride and an enduring legacy.