Just like countries all over the world, the Philippines is grappling with various unprecedented challenges brought upon by COVID-19.
Efforts from central and local Governments, private sectors, and individuals are necessary to combat this crisis. As the rest of the population stay home to do their part, there are still groups of people who need to commute to work to perform essential services for the country. Some of them in the frontline of COVID-19 battles are our healthcare professionals and support workers, who tirelessly put their lives at risk on a daily basis.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) salutes and gives its utmost respect to these frontliners providing such essential services. Being a good corporate citizen, the company would like to do its part to support the Department of Transportation’s ‘Free Ride for Health Workers Program’. Today, the company announces its collaboration with the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), an independent non-for-profit organization aimed at enabling mobility for all, to provide sanitized, just-in-time transportation services for the health care frontliners in Philippine General Hospital.
Under this free-of-charge mobility support, up to 10 connected and sanitized shuttles are provided around the clock to cater to the different shifts of the workers to ease their burden. Equipped with a ‘Just-in-Time’ booking app, this service allows greater certainty in the pick-up time and at locations close to home for workers for enhanced security.
To reduce the risk of infection, these shuttles will also be installed with air purifiers and disposable seat covers replaced periodically, in addition to being frequently cleansed. Drivers and cleaning crew will don personal protective equipment as well. In keeping with guidelines for social distancing, passenger seating capacity will also be observed accordingly.
Mr. Atsuhiro Okamoto, President of TMP, commented, “To express our appreciation to the frontliners for their courage and sacrifice, Toyota partners with the Department of Transportation to support our modern day heroes. As a good corporate citizen of the Philippines, we will continue with our commitment to improve the quality of life of Filipinos, especially in these trying times.”
Mr. Pras Ganesh, Program Director for Asia Region of TMF, added, “Using our expertise in mobility solutions, TMF aims to support the Philippines’ health care workers in their daily commute, by providing a solution that offers peace of mind to maintain their well-being with this sanitized, just-in-time free shuttle service.”
The shuttle service will start from mid-May and operate for a period of three months, with the potential to be extended based on necessity.
Separately, TMP has also allocated 49 vehicles to various government hospitals, local government units, and other volunteer groups to transport frontliners, healthcare workers, and other essential workers. Other efforts to help the community include Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation’s (TMPF) donation of PPEs to a local hospital and distribution of rice and grocery packages to families in certain communities. TMP employees also pooled personal resources voluntarily to provide more PPEs to healthcare workers, basic food supply to the less privileged, and monetary support to non-regular employees. In addition to this, Metrobank Card Corporation is giving Petron fuel rebates to frontliners who are Toyota Mastercard holders.