The Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate foundation of the Aboitiz Group, in partnership with the group’s food unit Pilmico recently trained multipurpose cooperative members in Iligan City to become entrepreneurs.
Fifteen members of four cooperatives—Entre-Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mikro Group of Entrepreneurs MPC, Hindang Banana Farmers MPC, and the Iligan Wood and Bamboo Manufacturer MPC—became certified bakers after passing the National Certificate II Training on Baking and Pastry Production.
Pilmico provided the co-op members with bakery kits to ensure they can start their small bakery businesses and add to their respective cooperative’s income.
These co-ops will also receive training sessions on Entrepreneurial and Business Management that will enable them to develop their bakery business plans.
Under its Enterprise Development focus area, the Aboitiz Foundation aims to build the capabilities of community members to help themselves through sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities.
“We in the Aboitiz Foundation continues to find ways to work with the Aboitiz business units to create more jobs and livelihood opportunities for our assisted cooperatives,” Aboitiz Foundation First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan said.
“This collaboration with Pilmico will hopefully transform the lives of the cooperative members and help give them additional income. This is part of our larger strategy of co-creating communities that are safe, empowered, and sustainable,” Marasigan added.