Pilmico brings sustainable livelihood to Laguna, donates piglets, egg machines and bakery kits

Sta. Cruz, Laguna — Driven by its vision to be Partners for Growth, Pilmico – the food subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. – and Aboitiz Foundation continues to champion backyard farming and sustainable livelihoods in the country through its donation of piglets, egg machine and bakery kits in Laguna.

Over 500 attendees witnessed the turn over ceremony of livelihood packages – piglets, egg machines and bakery kits – to 28 beneficiaries during Pilmico’s Mahalin Pagkaing Atin Food and Livelhood Expo held at the Laguna Sports Complex, Sta. Cruz, Laguna on 8 November 2016.

The livelihood assistance, which consists of 30 piglets (each with one-cycle feed consumption), 10 egg machines (48-chicken set each with one month feed consumption) and 3 bakery starter kits (1-deck 4-tray bread oven, bread rack, working table, a delivery bike and 10 bags of flour), will enable local farmers to sustain their livelihoods through an easy-to-manage business with a quick return on investment, despite the threats of poverty, tragedy or conflict.

These donations are part of Pilmico’s Mahalin Pagkaing Atin program, a campaign introduced in mid-2014 that aims to promote sustainable entrepreneurship through promotion of local produce and instill a “pride of product, pride of place” mindset for both farmers and local consumers, thus enabling operators to maximize profit without passing through middlemen.

In coordination with Villar Sipag, some of the beneficiaries selected were repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) needing livelihood assistance.

Ms. Camille Villar, who spoke on behalf of her mother Senator Cynthia Villar said:

“Patuloy po tayong magtulungan para mai-angat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan lalong-lalo na ang mga farmers at fishermen na nais mapalago pa ang kani-kanilang negosyo.”

To date, Pilmico has already donated a total of 1126 piglets, 333 egg machines, 27 bakery starter packages as well as assisted 14 agri-posts where beneficiaries received feedbags as restart-up capital.

“We go around the country to promote backyard farming because we believe in the potential of our Filipino farmers to be a successful Partner for Growth. We hope that these piglets, egg machines and bakery kits will serve as the right tools to enable our farmers to develop sustainable livelihoods in the years to come,” said Sabin M. Aboitiz, Pilmico President and Chief Executive Officer.

Aside from the turnover of livelihood kits, Pilmico also hosted several lectures on animal husbandry and nutrition, basic and advanced baking demos as well as micro-financing and branding seminars. Attendees were also treated to cooking demos led by Mahalin Pagkaing Atin Ambassador Chey Boy Logro where the different flavors of the Philippines were showcased using pork, chicken, & eggs.

Pilmico, guided by its vision to become Partners for Growth, has been providing customers with high-quality wheat flour and related products since 1962. It also excels in swine & poultry production and animal feeds. With its consistent excellence and top-notch products, Pilmico ensures market competitiveness by increasing customer satisfaction.