Pilmico and Aboitiz Foundation in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), turned over 12 sets of egg machine kits to select farming organizations in Region III last January 21-26, 2022. This is in line with Pilmico’s objective to provide farmers with additional sustainable agribusinesses in the form of Pilmico poultry feeds, one (1) egg weighing scale, and animal health products.
Pilmico, together with AFI, provides knowledge and technical assistance along with the livelihood kits. Groups who have little or no experience with poultry management can become efficient poultry farmers, have alternative sources of income, and provide fresh eggs for their community.
The said project was formally launched through a Memorandum of Agreement signing held last January 12, 2022. Signatories include Maribeth Marasigan, President and Chief Operating Officer of Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Christopher Camba, First Vice President for Corporate External Relations, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Joseph Bernard S. Gamatero II, Vice President for Brand, Marketing & Corporate Social Responsibility, Pilmico Foods Corporation, and Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr., Regional Executive Director, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III.
Maribeth Marasigan imparted to the beneficiaries that the project is a collaboration between their communities and Aboitiz Group for their agribusiness to grow further.
“Mithiin namin sa Aboitiz Group na matulungan kayo sa abot ng aming makakaya. We aim to co-create resilient, empowered, and sustainable communities dito sa inyong lugar. Sa tulong ninyo, confident kami na sabay-sabay tayong uunlad. We will continuously remind you that each one of you is capable of growing. Not all of us here will be businessmen or entrepreneurs or even leaders but our aim is that through this project, each of you will find value in yourselves, strive to achieve your fullest potential, and hopefully, in turn, help somebody else someday,” she said.
— Maribeth Marasigan, President and Chief Operating Officer of Aboitiz Foundation
Meanwhile, Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr. welcomed this program as it’s aligned with DA’s goal towards becoming a food secure country. “We, here in the DA, welcome this endeavor coming from Pilmico. This is in line with the ‘One DA Reform Agenda’ in having our country food resilient and secure with prosperous farmers and fisherfolks. With this pandemic, this Covid-19, we are on the second year. Ito ‘yung mga projects na ine-encourage namin with the private sector and at the same time regular program dito sa DA, yung ating mga community to readily produce their own requirements,” he said.
As of its launch last January 12, 2022, the egg machine livelihood kits have been distributed to 12 farmer organizations in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Zambales. Beneficiaries include: Carmen Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, Apung Anton Farmers Association Inc., Mexico United Farmers & People Association, Amucao Seed Growers, Agro-Industrial Cooperative, and Responsible on Development for Upland Farmers in Re-covering Kalikasan (RDUCK).
