The Department of Agrarian Reform, and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and Aboitiz Equity Ventures have renewed their partnership in providing livelihood assistance to farmers’ organizations.
Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Pilmico Foods Corp. president and chief executive officer Tristan Aboitiz have partnered anew to promote sustainable agri-livelihood for the members of agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations through a memorandum of understanding.
Under the agreement, Aboitiz Foundation and AEV shall provide financial assistance for various livelihood programs for the farmers’ groups, while Pilmico would provide technical and logistical support.
DAR would identify potential organizations to participate in the project in coordination with the DAR provincial offices.
Estrella thanked the Aboitiz Foundation, AEV, and Pilmico for their generosity, willingness and kindness to help the most productive people in the country, the farmers.
“We would like to see the farmers be integrated and be part of the consumers’ group for them to have better purchasing power. With that, they would have greater chances of succeeding in any business they would engage in,“ he said.
Aboitiz said Pilmico and DAR’s partnership started in 2017 when they launched a livelihood distribution project for the agrarin reform beneficiaries organization in various provinces.
In the last five years, the partnership provided hundreds of livelihood kits and technical training that helped create sustainable livelihood and accessible income opportunities for agrarian reform beneficiaries nationwide.
“As of date, Pilmico has donated a total of 177 livelihood kits amounting to P17.2 million. As we close to 2022, we target to add to this number by distributing gilt packages and bakery livelihood kits across different areas of the country,” he said.