Aboitiz provides PH soldiers sustainable livelihood
The Aboitiz Group through its various business units and social development arm Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. supports P.A.G.K.A.I.N (Pagbabago Ay Gawin, Kabuhayang pang-Agrikultura Iaalay Namin) Para sa mga Bayani program, an enterprise development program made possible through the collaboration of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of National Defense (DND).
Aboitiz pledged the donation of 60 egg-laying machines (ELM) to the DA’s Karne, Isda, Supply at Suporta Para sa Masa at Ekonomiya (KISSME) program, promoting backyard farming as a sustainable livelihood and income earner for Filipino soldiers, especially those who were at the frontlines during the Marawi siege.
Each ELM kit contains 48 heads of Ready-to-Lay (RTL) hens, galvanized steel cages, feeders, nipple drinkers, water gallon containers, and one-month feed supply. Beneficiaries from various military camps will be chosen by the DA-DND partnership.
“As Partners for Growth, we are pleased to be able to extend assistance to our soldiers through our egg machines. We hope that we would be able to provide the means for our country’s heroes to uplift their lives and sustain an adequate livelihood,” said Pilmico President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sabin M. Aboitiz who is also the Chief Operating Officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.
An ELM is a backyard farming starter kit that allows the continuous production of eggs for 16 months. Each kit has the capacity to produce up to 46 eggs in a day. The RTLs have a lifespan of 16-18 months while the cages can last for 10 years or 6.6 laying cycles.
To date, Aboitiz has donated 44 ELM kits in various military camps including 10th Infantry Division, Camp General Manuel T. Yan, Sr., Mawab, Compostela Valley, , Davao; Eastern Mindanao Command, Panacan, Davao City, , Davao; Camp Gen. Adriano Hernandez Dingle, Iloilo; 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp BGen Edilberto Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City; and Western Mindanao Command, Camp General Basilio Navarro, Zamboanga City.
“These egg-laying machines, I believe, will certainly be of great help to the chosen community once they reach their respective beneficiaries,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines Commander Ronald C. Villanueva during the turnover of ELM kits to the wounded soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp BGen Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan De Oro City last October.
“It is with this kind of endeavor that we are able to foster a culture of social responsibility among us, as it brings us to a deeper understanding of the thrusts of Pilmico as our Partner,” he added, thanking the Aboitiz Group food subsidiary which is the proponent of the ELM.
Pilmico, together with Aboitiz Foundation, provide capability training prior to ELM kits turnover as well as technical assistance to ensure that beneficiaries will be able to sustain the livelihood.
Early this month, Aboitiz turned over ten ELM kits to the families of “killed-in-action” soldiers of the Western Mindanao Command in Camp Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga City.
“Indeed, this is really a great relief on the part of our beloved families, dahil kahit papaano ay bibigyan natin sila ng bagong pag-asa, sa mga araw at panahon na darating….the utmost gratitude is extended to our friends from the Aboitiz Group, maraming salamat po.”,’” said LTC Gen Arnel B. Dela Vega AFP Commander, Western Mindanao Command
The PAGKAIN Para Sa Mga Bayani program is also supported by other Aboitiz companies including Aboitiz Power Corporation, Davao Light and Power Company, Therma Mobile Inc (TMI), Therma South Inc., Pilmico Foods Corporation (PFC), and Aboitiz Equity Ventures as part of the Group’s commitment to drive change for a better world. #
