Pilmico and Aboitiz Foundation empower Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries through bakery livelihood opportunities

Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (Pilmico) and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (Aboitiz Foundation) provide bakery livelihood opportunities to two Department of Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBO) namely Calapugan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (CARe.Co) of Natividad and Maresma Multipurpose Cooperative (MMPC). 

CARe.Co has gained recognition for its production of cassava chips, while MMPC is known for its squash noodles.  Both initiatives were launched under the Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project in March 2021.

In 2024, Pilmico and Aboitiz Foundation selected these successful farming cooperatives as recipients of the bakery livelihood kits, enabling them to embark on a new venture in the bakery industry.

Each bakery kit consists of a brand-new high-capacity oven, a heavy-duty stainless steel table, a bread rack, a bread showcase display, a proofer, a spiral mixer, and a cake mixer.

The complete livelihood kit allows CaRe.Co and MMPC to open a bakery in their respective local communities.

Aside from the delivery of the bakery equipment on July 13, 2024, members of the cooperatives will undergo a bakery training program under Pilmico’s Technical Service Manager for Flour, Chef Carla Valencia.

Various representatives, including CaRe.Co Chairperson Conrado C. Pagal. MMPC Chairperson Sally O. Madriaga and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Charlotte F. Lasmarias, signed the MOA.

Meanwhile, PARPO I Reymond Niño R. Yu and Pilmico Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist Pinky Christine C. Baroman witnessed the MOA signing.

Other representatives present at the event were the VLFED project point person and area coordinator Dolores C. Tendero, along with other members of the ARBOs.

DAR Pangasinan’s Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II, Charlotte F. Lasmarias, leads the MOA signing with Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations namely, Calapugan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (CARe.Co) of Natividad and Maresma Multipurpose Cooperative (MMPC).

Pilmico’s bakery livelihood project is part of the company’s “Mahalin Pagkaing Atin” program, which aims to provide beneficiaries with alternative sources of income, such as bakery starter kits or livestock farming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which farming cooperatives received bakery livelihood kits, and what were they already known for?
Two Department of Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations were selected as recipients: the Calapugan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (CARe.Co) of Natividad, known for its production of cassava chips, and the Maresma Multipurpose Cooperative (MMPC), recognized for its squash noodles. Both cooperatives were already established under the Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project launched in March 2021, which demonstrated the organizational maturity and track record that made them suitable candidates for expansion into the bakery industry.

Q2. What exactly is included in each bakery livelihood kit?
Each complete bakery livelihood kit contains professional-grade equipment designed to allow a cooperative to open and operate a fully functional community bakery. The kit includes a high-capacity oven, a heavy-duty stainless steel worktable, a bread rack, a bread showcase display, a proofer, a spiral mixer, and a cake mixer. The breadth of equipment provided – covering both bread and cake production – signals that the initiative is designed to enable genuine commercial bakery operations rather than simply supplementary home-based baking activity.

Q3. What training support accompanies the equipment, and who leads it?
Beyond receiving physical equipment, members of both cooperatives will undergo a dedicated bakery training program led by Chef Carla Valencia, Pilmico’s Technical Service Manager for Flour. This technical education component is critical to the initiative’s long-term success – equipment alone does not create a viable bakery business. By pairing professional-grade tools with structured skills training from an expert, the program equips cooperative members with both the means and the knowledge to produce consistent, marketable baked goods independently over time.

Q4. What is the “Mahalin Pagkaing Atin” program and how does this bakery initiative fit within it?
“Mahalin Pagkaing Atin” is Pilmico’s broader corporate program aimed at providing beneficiaries with alternative sources of income. It operates through two primary streams: bakery starter kits and livestock farming support. The bakery livelihood project for CARe.Co and MMPC falls directly within this framework, connecting the cooperative-level initiative to a structured, company-wide commitment to community economic empowerment. The program reflects Pilmico’s philosophy that sustainable business growth and meaningful livelihood contribution to local communities are complementary goals.

Q5. What are the key takeaways from this initiative?
Three elements make this initiative stand out. First, the selection of cooperatives with proven track records – rather than starting with groups from scratch – increases the likelihood of sustainable outcomes. Second, the combination of full commercial-grade equipment and professional technical training addresses both the infrastructure and skills gaps that typically prevent small community groups from entering the food industry. Third, formalizing the partnership through a signed Memorandum of Agreement involving Pilmico, Aboitiz Foundation, and the Department of Agrarian Reform creates institutional accountability and signals a long-term, multi-stakeholder commitment rather than a one-off donation.