DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 9 (PNA) –- Pilmico, the food subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., on Friday donated ten piglets and six egg machines to some pre-screened beneficiaries in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
The turnover ceremony was held during the Pilmico’s “Mahalin ang Pagkaing Atin” Food and Livelihood Expo at the Sibulan Multi-Purpose gymnasium in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, about ten minutes drive north of this capital.
The distribution of piglets and livelihood kits is part of Pilmico’s drive to “accelerate its sustainable livelihood and backyard farming initiatives” nationwide.
According to Pilmico, the donations will “enable 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.
Each egg machine consists of a complete kit of pens containing 48 six-month old, ready-to-lay hens and rearing cages with built-in feeding trough, waterer, and one month worth of feeds.
According to Norie Bermudez, Pilmico AVP-Feeds Sales, the donations are part of the company’s campaign, Mahalin Pagkaing Atin, which has turned over nationwide a total of 736 piglets and 215 egg machines.
Also, the campaign has assisted 14 agri-posts where beneficiaries receive feedbags as restart-up capital. In addition, 373 families nationwide are benefiting from the program at present.
Yolanda victims, especially in Leyte, are among the beneficiaries of Pilmico’s livelihood program.
Around 500 participants had gathered at the Sibulan gymnasium for the whole day Food and Livelihood Expo that featured a cooking demo with known television personality Chef Boy Logro in the lead.
Chef Boy shared his experience, saying that with the very little education that he had, he managed to rise above the trials and hardships in life with sheer determination and faith.
Other activities included audio-visual presentations on the Mahalin Pagkaing Atin overview, success stories of Pilmico customers, swine and egg machines donations, egg machine fundamentals and upkeep, swine nutrition and husbandry and awarding of success story and Pilmico Experience writing contest winners.
Bermudez said there will be another round of the Mahalin Pagkaing Atin food livelihood and expo in Negros Oriental although she declined to reveal further information on the date and venue.
Everyone is encouraged to partner with Pilmico as it endeavors “to promote sustainable entrepreneurship through the 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. (PNA)