Education has been a major beneficiary of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
On July 24, 1990, TMP established the TMP Foundation (TMPF), a nonstock and nonprofit organization to implement its CSR initiatives under four pillars: health care, education, rnvironment and community service.
TMP and TMPF strongly support the national government’s policy that makes education a national priority. Toyota sees educational initiatives as a concrete way of advancing community development. Focus on education is also aligned with its goal of empowering its immediate community.
TMP adopted Pulong Santa Cruz Elementary School (PSCES) in its host city of Sta. Rosa, Laguna province and launched in 2018 its Computerization Project to transform the institution into a “fully computerized school,” which would be a trailblazer in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region.
Toyota’s efforts to transform PSCES was aligned with the Department of Education’s objective to “provide public schools with appropriate technologies that would enhance the teaching-learning process and meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
Toyota’s assistance to PSCES also supported the “Adopt-a-School” Program under Republic Act No. 8525, which enjoined private groups and individuals to support and participate in nation-building by investing in education. TMPF, which has supported PSCES since the mid-1990s, formalized the “adoption” with a Memorandum of Agreement in 2003.The move to computerize PSCES was almost prescient. In 2020, the whole world, including the Philippines, was ravaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that shut down everything, including schools. The Philippines’ educational system scrambled to keep students learning without face-to-face sessions by going digital.
TMPF helped PSCES adapt to digital classes. A total of 4,000 learning modules for such subjects as mathematics, music, arts, physical education and health and edukasyon sa pagpapakatao were produced for Kindergarten to Grade 2. On top of 54 laptop computers donated in 2016, 46 new laptops were donated so teachers can prepare online learning materials and to facilitate digital classes. To meet health and safety needs, TMP produced reusable face masks that TMPF distributed to teachers, staff and parents. Thermal scanners, alcohol, antibacterial/germicidal soaps, disinfectant sprays, bleach and solutions, disposable gloves, face shields, foot baths, spray tanks and mops were provided to prevent COVID-19 infections.
To date, TMPF has donated 1,250 pieces of reusable face masks and over P64,000 worth of sanitation items.
TMP also strengthened and adapted the programs of its Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMP Tech), the company’s technical-vocational school inside its economic zone in Sta. Rosa City, to meet both existing and emerging needs.
TMP Tech’s automotive training curriculum was redesigned to address physical limitations, sustain learning and maintain a steady and reliable pool of automotive professionals. Scholarships and flexible tuition payment schemes were boosted.TMP Tech shifted to a “new normal” by adopting blended learning strategies. The premier tech-voc institution updated its curriculum and combined online teaching and face-to-face instruction. For courses requiring a theoretical foundation, TMP Tech instructors create online modules for online classes.
Adapting its programs to COVID-19 restrictions, the school prioritized safety, sustained home schooling and advanced the technical know-how of students and teachers. TMP Tech devised a catch-up program for students with internet connectivity problems.Through sponsored scholarship programs, TMP Tech provides opportunities to students all over the country, especially those adversely affected financially by the pandemic. Early in 2020, the school received a P5 million-worth of scholarship fund from the GT Foundation, Inc. for marginalized but deserving students. This expanded the school’s capability to develop Toyota automotive professionals and opened employment opportunities in Toyota dealer network expansion areas.TMP Tech has financial assistance schemes, like the “Study Now, Pay Later,” for families that cannot afford to pay now. All these initiatives show TMP’s commitment to assist its partner community in time of great need and unforeseen challenges.
