​•  Pilmico Signs Notes Facility AgreementFor the first time, both Pilmico Foods Corporation and Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation have tapped the debt capital markets. The two companies signed last April 5 a Notes Facility Agreement for the issuance of a P1.29-billion Multi-Tranche Fixed Rate Notes for Pilmico Foods and a P600-million 5-year fixed notes for PANC.  Issue Manager and Bookrunner is the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group with the following as note holders for Pilmico Foods: Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Robinsons Bank Corporation, Banco de Oro Unibank- Trust & Investments Group, Bpi Asset Management and Trust Group, Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd., and Chinabank Savings Bank Trust.  For PANC, the note holders are China Banking Corporation and Robinsons Bank Corporation. Notes Facility Agent is Security Bank Corporation Trust Division. Proceeds of the notes will be used to fund Pilmico’s investments in various projects including capital expenditures and acquisitions, working capital requirements, and refinancing existing obligations.    •  PILMICO donates brand new computer units to two public schools in Iligan CityBy Marxianne B. Quijano  Two Iligan local public schools were recipients of brand new computer units from Pilmico.  Doña Juana Actub Lluch Memorial Central School (DJAL) and Iligan City Central School (ICCS) both received separate batches of brand new computer units last February 2011.   Present during the turnover at DJAL were its Principal, Ms. Ruvi O. Peñola; DepEd's Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Cherry Mae L Limbaco; Pala-o Barangay Captain Boy Niez and Iligan City Councilor Bayani Areola. The units were handed over by Pilmico Foods Corporation’s VP for Operations, Reano C. Gumalo; and Administration Officer Ms. Kristine A. Baguio.  On the other hand, present during the turnover at ICCS were its Principal, Mrs. Vivian M. Santiago; DepEd's Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Cherry Mae L Limbaco; Mahayhay Barangay Captain Rey Obach; City Councilor and Chairperson in Education, Ariel P. Anghay;  ICCD District Supervisor, Dr. Pacita C. Loberanes and Federated PTA President, Engr. Dizon B. Ducay. Units were handed over by Pilmico’s AVP for Feedmill Production, Mr Florencio Sebandal; and Administration Officer Ms. Kristine A. Baguio.  The donation of the computer units will supplement the schools’ computer literacy programs. The project is part of Pilmico’s continuing efforts to support its community through education by providing technological equipments and better facilities.      •  Pilmico donates Two-Classroom School Building in Iligan CityBy Marxianne B. Quijano  Pilmico Foods Corporation and Aboitiz Foundation turned over a two classroom school building to Northeast II-A Central School in Dalipuga, Iligan City last November 17, 2010. The ribbon cutting and turnover ceremony was facilitated by Pilmico’s President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sabin M. Aboitiz and Assistant DepEd Superintendent, Ms. Fely T. Yu.  Pilmico’s VP for Operations Reano C. Gumalo together with CSR Chairman and Administrative Officer Ms. Maria Fe S. Capistrano, and other Pilmico staff were also present in the ceremony.   A joint-effort with DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program, the school building is equipped with complete toilet facilities, plastic arm chairs, and black boards. Each classroom could accommodate 50 elementary level students.   The construction of the school building is part of Aboitiz Foundation and Pilmico’s continuing efforts to support its community through a privilege of a better education.  ​ •  Pilmico donates Library Kits to 2 Elementary Schools in Capas, TarlacBy Mark Yamson  Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation donated library kits to Capas East Central and Capas, Tarlac. The library kit donation is part of the company’s community relations program to education-related initiative.  The turnover ceremony was witnessed by Community Relations Committee of Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation and respective school representatives. The two schools are the third and fourth educational institutions awarded this year with library kit by Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation as a way of giving significance to education through its corporate social responsibility programs.  •  Pilmico promotes access to Information Technology in IliganBy Marxianne B. Quijano  Pilmico Foods Corporation, together with Aboitiz Foundation, turned over the refurbished computers and donated additional computer sets for Luinab Elementary School, Northeast II-A Elementary School and Severo-Sara Memorial School last October 15, 2010. This is in line with the company’s aim of providing greater access to information technology, value for computer literacy and proficiency.  Also part of the project was the provision of internet connections to the three elementary school beneficiaries. It intends to grant the students access to global resources and in order for them to gain more effective knowledge and learning opportunities.   The turn-over ceremonies were attended by Dep-ed Assistant Division Superintendent Mrs. Fely T. Yu, the respective school principals, teachers, students, as well as by members of the Sangguniang Barangay of Brgy. Luinab; and various Pilmico Foods Corporation representatives headed by Ms. Maria Fe Capistrano, Administrative Officer and CSR Chairman.  •  Pilmico, CMEDFI teach Camotes womenfolk baking and hog raisingBy Farah Michelle D. Curaza  Empowering women is vital to sustainable development through self-sustaining economic activities. When women are empowered, the whole family benefits. Cebu Micro-Enterprise Development Foundation Incorporated (CMEDFI) by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) reinforces this belief as they create micro-finance programs that provide women access to capital.  During the Camotes Businesswomen’s Summit organized by CMEDFI last November 5, Pilmico, the food subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group, was invited to give a talk on possible businesses. The flour division of the company, through Territory Business Manager Mark Daruca, shared important insights on Bakery Business Strategy. This was then followed by a short cooking demo where some participants were given a free hand to participate in the demo.  Meanwhile, representatives from the feeds division discussed the merits of their Diamond Program, Pilmico’s proven model for profitable hog-raising and swine production.  Camotes Island’s main source of livelihood is fishing and farming. By teaching the women new skills, Pilmico provides them with new opportunities to grow and elevate their economic stature.  •  Pilmico Refurbished Baking Laboratory for Dalipuga National High SchoolBy Marxianne B. Quijano  Pilmico Foods Corporation, through the Aboitiz Foundation, turned over a newly refurbished baking laboratory, with brand new baking and cooking equipment and ingredients to Dalipuga National High School.  Pilmico Staff headed by their VP for Operations Reano C. Gumalo together with the school principal Mr. Ronillo Apas facilitated the ribbon cutting and turnover ceremony last November 24, 2010. Also present during the said activity were Brgy. Captain Pedrito Manos and Brgy. Kagawad Aloha Oracion.  The School Principal and High School students expressed their heartfelt gratitude for this generous project and aspire to be experts in baking and cooking with the refurbished baking laboratory.  Dalipuga National High School’s baking laboratory is the first and only baking laboratory for public high school students in Iligan City. This project will certainly be very much helpful to the community, especially the youth who wishes to pursue their skills in the area of baking and cooking.  •  Pilmico Turns Over A New Fire Station to Brgy DalipugBy Marxianne B. Quijano  Pilmico Foods Corporation, in coordination with the Aboitiz Foundation, turns over to Barangay Dalipuga in Iligan City a new fire substation building last November 24, 2011.  Accepting the symbolic key from Engr Reano C. Gumalo, Pilmico’s VP for Operations, were Bureau of Fire Protection provincial head Provincial Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Oscar Q. Abecia and Iligan City Chief Fire Marshall Wilfredo A. David.  Mr. David, in his message, said that the substation is a great asset for the Dalipuga community since it is situated near the village residences thereby ensuring them of firemen’s quick response to emergency situations.   The construction of the new fire substation was the joint undertaking of the Homeowners Association of Barangay Dalipuga, the Office of the City Mayor of Iligan, Pilmico Foods Corporation and Aboitiz Foundation as part of the latter’s Corporate Social Responsibility thrust.  ​•  Iligan Flour Plant is Now ISO 9001:2008 CertifiedBy Liezl Panangit  The Iligan Flourmill plant of Pilmico Foods Corporation was awarded the ISO 9001_2008 certification. SGS United Kingdom Ltd Systems and Services Certification through SGS Philippines, a globally recognized ISO accreditation group, awarded the ISO certification to the Aboitiz-owned flourmill.  Pilmico Iligan first earned its ISO 9001:2000 certification back in 2005 and has since successfully hurdled annual SGS audits, strongly reaffirming its world-class quality management systems. This year saw the  transition from ISO 9001:2000 to ISO 9001:2008 version. Though no new requirements were introduced, this latest version gives special focus on measures that would gauge the effectiveness of a quality management system.   Attaining the said certification confirms Pilmico’s compliance with globally approved standards for establishing a QMS that meets the requirements related to customer satisfaction, management responsibility and continuous improvement.