What started as a poultry farm for the Camono-an Agrarian Reform Community Farmers Association (CARCFA) has turned into an even larger and sustainable livelihood for them. In a recent interview with MCO News TV, a local news outlet in Eastern Visayas, they shared their bakery business journey. 

Their association started with poultry (egg laying) and vegetable production as their main livelihood. Through the recommendation of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), they became a recipient of a Bakery Livelihood Kit from Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI). The kit included supplies, ingredients, and equipment which they received in December 2020. 

According to Ruth Borja, President of CARFCA, once they were equipped with the complete tools, they began the bakery business right away. “Nag-start kami noong December 2020 upon delivery ng mga equipment na mula sa programa ng PILMICO-DAR…Bago dumating ang bakery livelihood na ito, naka-focus po kami sa Vegetable Production at Poultry (egg laying production) livelihood ng aming association,” she said.

Since then, they have successfully managed and sustained their business with Otap as one of their best-selling products. Pedro Demiterio, the bakery’s master baker, has been making Otap for the past 40 years in Bulacan and Cebu. He willingly shared his years of expertise to ensure that their products are made delicious and affordable. 

“Noong nalaman ko na magtatayo ng bakery ang asosasyon sinabi ko na ako ang hahawak bilang isang master baker,” Demiterio shared. 

After more than a year of operation, the association’s bakery business is able to provide its members with additional income. Teresita Pigtuan, a member of Camono-an ARC Farmers Assoc., says that even though she just recently started selling their goods, the bakery has already helped with their household finances. “Ngayong January lamang ako ang nagtinda ng isang buwan sa talipapa at malaking tulong ito sa amin sa mga gastusin namin sa bahay,” she said. 

This is just one of the many efforts of Pilmico as they fulfill their mission of feeding humanity.  With a vision of advancing business and communities, Pilmico is steadfast and proactive in providing livelihood kits whether it’s pig raising, poultry farming, or bakery starter kits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the CARCFA story illustrate the value of multi-livelihood strategies for agrarian reform communities?
CARCFA’s trajectory — from a single-livelihood farming association to a multi-stream operation covering poultry, vegetables, and baking — illustrates the risk reduction benefit of diversified income sources for communities with limited capital buffers. When one income stream is disrupted by weather, disease, or market fluctuations, the others can sustain the household. The Pilmico Bakery Livelihood Kit specifically was designed to complement rather than replace existing agricultural livelihoods — adding a non-seasonal, non-weather-dependent production activity that generates income throughout the year regardless of agricultural cycles.

Who is CARCFA and how did they come to receive a bakery livelihood kit?
CARCFA — the Camono-an Agrarian Reform Community Farmers Association — is a farmers association in Eastern Visayas whose primary livelihoods were poultry (egg laying) and vegetable production. Through the recommendation of the Department of Agrarian Reform, CARCFA became a recipient of a Bakery Livelihood Kit from Pilmico Foods Corporation and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. in December 2020 — expanding their livelihood base with a third income stream that uses completely different skills, equipment, and market channels than their existing agricultural operations.

What did the CARCFA Bakery Livelihood Kit contain and what happened when they received it?
The kit included complete bakery supplies, ingredients, and equipment needed to launch a functioning bakery business. According to CARCFA President Ruth Borja, they began the bakery business immediately upon delivery of the equipment in December 2020 — not after a period of additional planning or delay. This immediate operational start reflects the kit’s design: providing everything needed to begin production without requiring additional capital investment or procurement by the beneficiary.

Who is Pedro Demiterio and what role has he played in CARCFA’s bakery success?
Pedro Demiterio is CARCFA’s master baker — a skilled craftsman who has been making Otap (a popular Filipino biscuit pastry) for over 40 years, with experience from Bulacan and Cebu. When he learned that the association was opening a bakery, he volunteered to serve as the lead baker and take ownership of quality. His 40 years of expertise with what became CARCFA’s best-selling product — Otap — gave the bakery an immediate competitive product from its first day of operation, rather than requiring the usual learning curve.

What have been the measurable livelihood impacts for CARCFA members after more than a year of bakery operations?
CARCFA member Teresita Pigtuan shared that even though she had only recently started selling their baked goods at the local market (talipapa), the bakery income had already become a meaningful contribution to their household finances — specifically helping with regular household expenses. Her testimony is significant because it comes from a member who was new to selling rather than a founding baker — suggesting the bakery’s financial benefits were accessible to multiple members of the association, not just those most centrally involved in production.