Aboitiz food subsidiary brings sustainable backyard farming to Yolanda survivors

30 January 2015, Medellin, CEBU – Fifteen Yolanda survivors who were recipients of Pilmico ‘egg machines’ shared today inspiring stories on rebuilding lives after their livelihood were disrupted by super typhoon Yolanda.

Pilmico, the food subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group, has donated 130 egg machines throughout Visayas to help survivors revive their disrupted livelihood while championing sustainable backyard farming among local farmers.

An “egg machine” refers to a complete kit of pens with 48 six-month old ready-to-lay (RTL) hens and consists of rearing cages with built-in feeding trough and waterer.

The distribution of egg machines is part of Pilmico’s Mahalin Pagkaing Atin (MPA) campaign, which is a quick impact project with a quick return on investment.

“MPA is a sure-fire formula for small time local backyard farmers to recover business losses and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the said calamity,” said Pilmico President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz.

The campaign pushes for the preference for the homegrown category and traceable origins and aims to elevate the sense of pride of the communities for their homegrown produce, he added.

The Aboitiz food subsidiary started rolling out egg machines in August last year to communities affected by conflict, poverty, and tragedy, initially in areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda, specifically Leyte and  north Cebu.

On top of the egg machine distribution, Pilmico also conducted technical and social trainings such as “Egg Machine Fundamentals and Upkeep” and “Swine Nutrition and Husbandry” to enable these local farmers maintain their livelihood.

Pilmico also recognized some community members from Bogo, Daan Bantayan, and Medellin for their notable acts of heroism when Yolanda struck the province. The turnover activity also celebrated the different flavors of Cebu through various booth displays and cooking demonstrations.

Since 1962, Pilmico has been providing generations of families across the Philippines with top-notch, high-quality food products and developing communities by giving livelihood opportunities.

Pilmico is a subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, the publicly listed holding and investment company of the Aboitiz Group with major investments in power, banking, food, and land development. AEV is recognized as one of the best-managed companies in the Philippines and in the region, and is acknowledged for its good corporate governance. #