Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. Gives Back on its Silver Anniversary

In recognizing the value of the company’s success, Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) kicks off its 25th anniversary by giving back to the communities within the company’s vicinity.

The tire manufacturing company is set to donate tires for the emergency service vehicles of its neighboring communities to support the quick Covid-19 and emergency response of its local health units. Aside from this, YTPI will also be donating printing materials to nearby public schools that are currently under the modular learning system due to the pandemic.

"YTPI has come so far in the past 25 years. I am humbled and grateful for the support the company and our team have received over the years. Despite the global pandemic, I feel blessed that we have grown YTPI into a business that can give back,” said YTPI President and CEO Tetsuya Nagao.

Moreover, several events are also lined up to commemorate the plant’s 25th anniversary, including a social media project that will feature some of the people behind the success of the company, and a photo exhibit about the company’s milestones through the years.

To build camaraderie in the workplace, several in-house activities will also be held, including a board design contest, an online gaming contest, and the launching of an informative video series. In addition, custom-made insulated bags and free food will be distributed to employees on the anniversary launch and culmination day.

From producing 5,000 tires per day to manufacturing 27,000 tires everyday

25 years had passed since the Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd. (YRC) established YTPI in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. Two years after the company’s inception, the first S-760 passenger tire model was manufactured at the first Yokohama tire manufacturing facility in Asia outside Japan.

Since then, YTPI has become a strategic and vital subsidiary of YRC that is essential to the local and global distribution of high-performance passenger car radial and recreational vehicle tires.

Over the years, tire demand and industry growth have resulted in YTPI’s several business expansions marking the company’s focus to proceed in several phases. On June 9, 2003, Phase II expansion started to ramp up production to 10,000 tires per day. Two years after, the company started the construction of its Phase III expansion, increasing production by 70 percent. 2008 was a banner year as YTPI set a record by producing 22,000 tires in a day. In 2011, YTPI officially started building the West Plant. The expansion move increased the company’s total land area from 16.5 hectares to 44.7 hectares. It also ramped up production resulting in a huge increase of the company’s manpower. By 2014, the second and last phase of YTPI’s West Plant Expansion was finally completed. To date, YTPI manufactures 27,000 tires per day and employs over 3,000 staff.

In less than a decade, amazing strides were made exponentially increasing production by fastidious and daring shifts. As manufacturing continues to achieve gain after gain, its workforce has grown as well, providing even more opportunities to the community.

Triumphed over challenges

Things did not go easily for the company as misfortune struck on May 14, 2017, when the YTPI East Plant – Phase 3 was razed with fire. As an agile and resilient company, YTPI began rebuilding and reconstruction the same year. And by June of the following year, partial production has already commenced.

In the constantly changing business environment, the company was able to recover and quickly stay the course. YTPI’s dauntless leadership and ability to adapt with complex shifts was crucial not only to maintain its momentum but also to move beyond. Nowhere is this more pronounced than the symbolic year of 2018, a year after the unfortunate event, when YTPI manufactured its 100,000,000th tire.

“Credit goes to every diligent employee who gave their all day in and day out. Their commitment and dedication to build quality tires that people can trust can only be matched with an unquenchable thirst for success,” said Nagao

As a testament to quality and excellence, the tire manufacturer has obtained ISO 9001 in 1998 for the Quality Management System and ISO 14001 certification in 2000 for the Environmental Management System. Moreover, in 2010, the Occupation Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001) certification was given to the company. A tire produced from YTPI guarantees that it has been manufactured abiding by the international standards of quality, and safety.

For YTPI, it has never been easy to create a good enterprise. As the company strives to attain its business goals, the management ensures that its business processes are founded on fair practices and compliance to all regulatory agencies. YTPI’s accomplishments are the employees’ achievements as well. It is a shared purpose, where the company’s leadership invests in its workforce and both have worked together towards the company’s mission and vision. YTPI’s singularity of providing safe work spaces whilst yielding quality that meets international standards has been a yardstick that defines it, all while committing to an environment where employees thrive, are valued and heard.

Giving back to the community

As a keen adopter of sustainability and eco-friendly business, it was all too clear that corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship has been part of the company’s mission. As an industry leader in reducing its carbon footprint, YTPI undertook the expansion of the Forever Forest, a global initiative of its parent company. Several generations ago, it all seemed that the world’s resources were infinite, but in the intervening years, wisdom and experience has shown otherwise, and in the time that YTPI has been involved with Forever Forest, over 44,000 trees have been planted within the facility and nearby areas.

The company has admirably committed and invested in sustainability and in 2019, YTPI has installed its own 4MW solar power rooftop. It is the second largest rooftop solar plant in the country and the largest in Central Luzon. It is considered as one of the company’s biggest environmental milestones to date as it greatly reduced Freeport’s annual CO2 emissions. In addition, a 1,020m3 rainwater recovery tank to harvest rain water for industrial purposes was constructed.

YTPI also devoted equal importance to strengthening partnerships with the local communities. Some of its notable projects include scholarship grants to nearly a hundred college students. The company has also donated health and sanitation facilities to public schools and has provided extensive and active support to Brigada Eskwela. In 2006, YTPI donated Php 1,000,000 worth of materials and supplies for the rehabilitation of the water system providing potable water to Indigenous Peoples (Aeta) families in San Vicente in Tarlac province. Socially responsible to itself, its stakeholders, and the public, YTPI is conscious of the kind of impact the company has on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental facets.

Braving through the new normal

As the whole world faces the challenges brought by the pandemic, the tire manufacturer officially launched The New Normal: Together We Can Beat This Better protocols and programs to ensure the safety of its people. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the company continued to contribute to the economic development of the country by generating employment opportunities, paying its taxes dutifully, and creating profit through fair and honest business activities.

In the face of both adversity and privilege, within a score and five years, what makes the YTPI’s silver anniversary worth celebrating is that despite the recent challenges of being in the midst of a global pandemic – the company continues to produce and deliver millions of tires that people can trust. All of this, operating within complexities big and small. This kind of success does not come without difficulties. It is through hard work, meticulous planning, cooperation and a great degree of foresight that this degree of accomplishment is envisioned, let alone, achieved.

“I want to congratulate all our former and current employees on this special milestone. It has been a wonderful journey altogether. Let’s continue to defy the odds and hope for the best in the coming years,” Nagao ended.

Here’s How We Can Create an HIV-Free World in the Next Normal

Inevitably, there are numerous issues of importance that have taken a backseat because of the ongoing pandemic. One of them is HIV, which has not only been a cause for concern for those in the LGBTQIA+ community, but the entire human race as well. And while the DOH recently announced that HIV cases have gone down by an astounding 68% in the 2nd quarter of 2020, they also note that it is no cause for celebration.

Whether the number of cases has truly gone down or is simply unreported due to lockdowns across the country, the fact remains that there are still new cases daily. In fact, before the pandemic, DOH statistics revealed that the country averaged 35 cases on a daily basis.

While we have movements and events like Pride Month that promote HIV-awareness alongside gender equality, bringing awareness to this cause, even while on lockdown, should not stop. There are actually some ways to raise the alarm and bring the issue of HIV to the fore. Here are a few:

Accept

A good first step—especially for those who are still on the fence and have reservations on the matter—would be to acknowledge and accept that people are free to identify themselves as they wish and that there is no one way to express one’s self and one’s love—not to mention that HIV exists. With this first step, individuals will have a much easier time trying to understand and empathize with each other and possibly help each other overcome challenges such as HIV, gender inequality, and other similar issues.

Educate

One of the many benefits of this fast-paced, digital world we live in today is that seemingly-unlimited information is readily available within our fingertips. This is key because part of creating an HIV-free world also entails learning more about it, the groups of people who usually contract it, and ways in which the virus can be eradicated.

Advocate

With a clear understanding on HIV, creating a world without it would mean spreading the word, engaging in discourse, and spreading your knowledge to uninformed people. In advocating, one can also learn more through likeminded people looking to express themselves as well.

Heed

Lastly, in order to disseminate information and knowledge further while building a sense of community, it would be good to take action and support calls and campaigns such as Durex’s “No One Way Love All Ways” Campaign that supports and promotes all ways of living and expressing.

“A big challenge in the fight against HIV has always been the lack of acknowledgement and proper education on the matter.” Said Dr. Rica Cruz, Licensed Psychologist, Sex Therapist and Educator. “While our current situation presents difficulties as physical events cannot be staged, the opportunity to use available technologies such as social media and online webinars can also be utilized to our advantage. These are excellent tools for spreading the word to a wider audience from the comforts of our home while still being safe in more ways than one.”

OYO launches Sanitized Stays in the Philippines

Manila, 1 June 2020: OYO Hotels & Homes is rolling out its Sanitized Stays in the Philippines from 1 June 2020. Under the initiative, OYO will implement comprehensive hygiene protocols and step up vigilance measures pre and post-check-in and throughout its customer journey, to curb any potential spread of Covid-19.

    ○ Check-in & check-out: To ensure social distancing, OYO will revamp its guest check-in & check-out process to a minimal touch process. The hotel chain is in the process of acquiring the required approvals for guests to upload their IDs and complete their formalities at the hotel with minimal staff interaction. Similarly, check-out and payment processes are being restructured to ensure minimal staff interaction.

    ○ Minimal contact service: To ensure social distancing at all customer-facing touchpoints, OYO will introduce minimal contact room service and will train the housekeeping staff on the same

    ○ Sanitized Stays Tag: All OYO properties enrolled in the platform will have the Sanitized Stays logo displayed on the Oyo App and Hotel Booking Platforms. Prior to being awarded this tag, hotels will go through an initial check, followed by checks are regular intervals for compliance. Out of these, properties that have cleared the background check will display the Sanitized Stays tag on the booking page. An audit based on reviews from guests will be conducted on the properties regularly to ensure that feedback, reviews and recommendations are taken into consideration to ensure they continue to be accredited as Sanitized Stays.

● Training of on-ground teams: The new training module will incorporate SOPs on the changed operating procedures across functions like:

○ Health screening including temperature checks and symptoms for guests as well as employees. Guests, Vendors and Contractors will be required to complete travel and health declaration.

○ Proper disinfection of the space frequently with the placement of hand sanitisers at the reception and the increased need to wear safety gear at all times

○ Encourage in-room dining and avoid all public areas

○ Distance markers on floors to highlight the correct physical distance people must adhere to

○ Guests will be requested to handle their own luggage as far as possible (unless the guest is a senior citizen or has a physical impediment). All luggage will also be sanitized.

○ Policies for dealing with outside suppliers and contractors complying with health advisories and government regulations

○ Property management to oversee the property’s housekeeping practices

“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospitality industry is facing a new normal in the way we operate. As a brand committed to offering safe accommodation options, OYO is proactively leading the change in housekeeping and cleanliness protocols within the hospitality industry, across all OYO properties. In this industry, maintaining the trust and confidence of guests is key - and this is reflected in the guest-first approach OYO is taking through our new protocols, in order to provide reassurance and peace of mind to guests,” said Ankit Gupta, Country Head, Philippines, OYO Hotels & Homes.

Hotel proprietors and staff can exercise discretion to accept or decline guests who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Covid-19 such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, headache and sore throat.

The Department of Health's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) will be contacted if guests and staff show signs any staff members show such signs and symptoms of having the virus.

Reminder to guests and staff

To ensure that social distancing is continuously observed, reminder signs will be placed in locations with higher foot traffic such as the hotel reception and lobby, in lifts and lift lobbies, and in restaurants. There will also be reminders on proper handwashing techniques in all toilets. To encourage frequent hand-cleaning, hand sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol content will be placed in common areas such as the reception and lobby, for all guests and staff to use. All staff will also be reminded to maintain appropriate hand hygiene standards by frequently cleaning their hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser.

Thorough cleaning protocols

As a vigilance measure, public spaces will be cleaned frequently using disinfectant products that have been pre-approved by the Ministry of Health for cleaning activities. Extra focus will be given to frequently touched areas such as tables in the lobby, the reception desks, lift buttons, door handles, room key cards, water dispensers and so on. Hard surfaces will be cleaned with warm water and detergent, followed by the disinfectant solution.

All items for laundry will be thoroughly washed at the hottest appropriate setting and fully dried, while all equipment used to transport and handle laundry will be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised.

For more information on OYO in the Philippines, please visit https://www.oyorooms.com/ph/

About OYO Hotels and Homes

Opening its doors in 2013, OYO Hotels & Homes is the world’s second-largest chain of hotels, homes, managed living and workspaces. The portfolio combines fully-operated real estate comprising more than 35,000 hotels and offers access to over 125,000 vacation homes, and over 1.2 million rooms. Additionally, OYO along with Vacation Homes categories managed by the company under OYO Homes, Belvilla, Danland, Dancenter along with Germany-based Traum-Ferienwohnungen brands can be found in more than 800 cities in 80 countries, including the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, the Middle East, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. The company also has a play in the housing rental business and co-working business in select countries. For more information, log onto https://www.oyorooms.com/