Toyota PH donates Tamaraw, equipment to Bantay Tamaraw Rangers

Staying true to its advocacy for the conservation of the endangered tamaraw (Bubalus Mindorensis), Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMPF) recently bolstered the efforts of wildlife conservationists through a significant contribution of a brand-new Tamaraw Utility Van (UV) along with PHP 500,000 worth of essential tools, various equipment, and mountaineering gear to the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).

These resources will ultimately be entrusted to the dedicated Bantay Tamaraw Rangers operating in Mindoro, directly supporting their crucial work in protecting this iconic and threatened species.

“We salute you for risking yourself on the ground to protect our tamaraws,” said TMP president, Masando Hashimoto. “Now, it is your turn to be protected too – from the harsh mountain conditions and various dangers of trekking and camping for weeks in the wilds.”

The Bantay Tamaraw Rangers are volunteer Indigenous People (IP) and barangay residents dedicated to protecting the critically endangered tamaraw and their known habitats in Iglit-Baco Natural Park, which spans across Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. To date, DENR’s Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) Office has 18 registered rangers who will soon receive a complete set of equipment.

The ceremonial turnover, held at the DENR Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City, was led by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation president Masando Hashimoto, and TMPF president Jose Maria Aligada.

On top of in-kind donations, TMPF is also committed to provide a Php 3-million conservation fund to support key program initiatives, including Tamaraw habitat monitoring and research, support programs for Barangay and Indigenous People (IP) volunteers, equipping the Tamaraw Research and Conservation Center, and various Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) activities.

_{The critically endangered tamaraw found in the forest and mountains regions of Mindoro}

The donations are part of a collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DENR and TMPF, signed synchronously with the release of the Next Generation Toyota Tamaraw in December 2024.