Toyota PH Scores Best-Ever ASPAC Finish

Toyota Motor Philippines earned six medals at the 2026 Toyota Asia Pacific Skills Contest in Thailand, its best result since joining the annual regional competition in 2006.

The Filipino delegation won two silver and four bronze medals across all six categories it entered. It was the first time TMP secured a medal in every category, which included its first podium finishes in two disciplines.

The contest was held at Toyota Motor Thailand’s Ban Pho plant in Chachoengsao province. Eleven Toyota affiliates from Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Pakistan and India took part.

Christian Cobilla won silver in the Painting Team Leader category, while Wilmer Penalla placed second in Logistics Team Member.

Noel Elpos, Edwin Bocaya, Loreto Muyna and Ramel Sarmiento collected bronze medals in Logistics, Assembly, Quality Control and Welding.

Elpos competed in the Logistics Team Leader category, where his result gave TMP its first medal in the discipline.

The Toyota Asia Pacific Skills Contest is organized by Toyota Motor Asia for production line team members and leaders. Participants complete exercises that test technical ability and their knowledge of the Toyota Production System.

TMP has now won 14 medals at the regional competition since its debut 20 years ago. The total includes four gold medals, with the latest secured in 2025.

The result also reflects the manufacturing experience developed at TMP’s plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna. The company said it has produced more than 1.2 million vehicles in the Philippines and can assemble over 60,000 completely knocked-down units annually.

The plant currently produces the Vios, Innova and Next Generation Tamaraw.