Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced today that it had joined together with its two Philippine subsidiaries-Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) and Yokohama Tire Sales Philippines, Inc. (YTSP)-to make a donation of P800,000 (about 1.9 million yen) to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in support of the relief agency's efforts to assist victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the central Philippines on October 15 this year. The funds were presented by YTPI Executive Vice President and YTSP President Masahiro Yuki to PRC Chairman Richard Gordon at the PRC's Manila headquarters on November 5.

The Philippine's government estimates that the 7.2 magnitude quake with epicenter on Bohol Island killed 218 people and injured another 768. In addition to the Red Cross donation, YTPI held a donation drive from October 29 to November 8 to accept cash donations and pledges from YTPI employees. These contributions will also be handed over to the PRC.

In keeping with the Yokohama Rubber Group's commitment to being a responsible corporate member of the wider society and communities in which it operates, YTPI has been an active supporter of past disaster relief activities in the Philippines. In September 2009, when Typhoon No. 16 (Typhoon Ketsana) struck Luzon Island causing flooding and other major damage in Metropolitan Manila, YTPI helped provide food to typhoon victims through cooperation with the Philippine army and the Clark Development Corporation, the administrator of the Clark Special Economic Zone that is home to YTPI's factory. YTPI employees also distributed other much-needed items to evacuees from landslides that hit the Arayat residential district not far from YTPI's factory.