Pilmico champions sustainable livelihood in CamSur
At a turnover ceremony in Barangay Carolina in Naga City, Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) formally turned over livelihood kits to select farmer-beneficiaries from Bicol as a joint effort to help increase farmers’ household income and to promote sustainable livelihood in the region.
Under the banner of Pilmico’s flagship advocacy program, Mahalin Pagkaing Atin and the DAR’s Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Development and Sustainability program, four (4) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Naga City received three piglets each, feed consumption from grower to finisher stage and technical assistance from Pilmico’s animal production specialists.
DAR Undersecretary Bernie Cruz, Pilmico Vice President for Corporate Strategy, Apol Castro and Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) Vice President for Government & External Relations Chris Camba were present during the turnover.
In her message, Pilmico Vice President for Corporate Strategy Apol Castro said:
“Naging posible ang araw na ito dahil sa pagkakatugma ng hangarin ng DAR, Aboitiz Foundation at Pilmico. Kaya naman gawin po nating adhikain na magtulungan – ang DAR, , Pilmico at ang inyong lokal na gobyerno – upang mapalago ang karagdagang kabuhayan na ito.”
Teodoro Lebuit, one of the beneficiaries of the program, thanked the Aboitiz group for his livelihood kit. He said:
“Lubos lubos po ang aming pasasalamat dahil kami po ang napili ng Pilmico na bigyan ng negosyong ito. Napakatagal ko na pong gusto na magbalik sa pagbababoy at natupad na po dahil sa Pilmico. Sa lahat po ng bumubuo sa programang ito, sa DAR, Pilmico, Aboitiz at iba pa sana po ay pagpalain po kayong lahat ng Maykapal. Napakalaking tulong po nito sa amin at pati sa pamilya namin.”
To date, seventeen (17) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries from Camarines Sur, South Cotabato and Surigao have already received livelihood assistance from Pilmico and DAR.
“Malaki ang tulong ng pagkakaroon ng Public-Private Partnerships sa mga layunin at adhikaing gaya nito. Sana ay wag magsawa ang Pilmico at Aboitiz sa pagtulong sa ating mga magsasaka nang sa gayon ay patuloy pa nilang mapaunlad ang kanilang sarili, pamilya at maging ang komunidad na rin.” DAR Undersecretary Bernie Cruz said.