Pilmico provides hog-raising opportunities to Bicol families

MANILA, Philippines – Pilmico, the food subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., has turned over 40 piglets to 20 pre-screened beneficiary families here as part of the company’s commitment to foster sustainable livelihood and backyard farming initiatives nationwide.

The turnover ceremony took place last Nov. 13 at Pilmico’s Mahalin Pagkaing Atin Food and Livelihood Expo at the Albay Astrodome, Legazpi City.

These piglets will empower local farmers to sustain their livelihood 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.

“A profitable livelihood means nothing if it is not sustainable – we in Pilmico want to ensure sustainable entrepreneurship for Bicolano farmers, to enable them to be Partners for Growth. We believe in the potential of the Bicol region to step up and be a model of growth and development. We hope that these piglets serve as the right tools to enable our farmer friends to uplift their lives be successful backyard farmers,” said Sabin M. Aboitiz, Pilmico president and chief executive officer.

To date, the results of Mahalin Pagkaing Atin have been truly encouraging. Nationwide, Pilmico has already donated a total of 776 piglets and 215 egg machines, as well as assisted 14 agri-posts where beneficiaries receive feedbags as restart-up capital. In addition, 393 families nationwide are benefitting from the Mahalin Pagkaing Atin program at present.

In addition to the turnover of 20 piglets, Pilmico also hosted several seminars on animal husbandry and nutrition, including cooking demos by Mahalin Pagkaing Atin Ambassador chef Boy Logro where the different flavors of Legazpi City were showcased using pork, chicken, and eggs.