Lebih dari satu tahun setelah konflik yang menyebabkan ribuan keluarga mengungsi di Kota Marawi, para pengungsi internal masih terus menghadapi tantangan untuk membangun kembali tidak hanya rumah mereka, tetapi juga mata pencaharian mereka.

Pilmico, USAid dan Provincial Livelihood Development Center (PLDC) Lanao del Sur telah bermitra untuk mengimplementasikan program pengembangan kapasitas sebagai tanggapan atas krisis kemanusiaan yang disebabkan oleh konflik Marawi.

Bulan lalu, para pembuat roti dan pemilik toko roti di Marawi mengikuti lokakarya pelatihan langsung untuk meningkatkan keterampilan mereka dalam memanggang dan mengoperasikan toko roti. Dua kelompok untuk pemula dan pembuat roti tingkat lanjut diadakan, masing-masing terdiri dari 20 peserta per kelas pada tanggal 17 hingga 19 September dan 24 hingga 26 September.

Di akhir pelatihan, para peserta tidak hanya mendapatkan pengetahuan tambahan mengenai ilmu pembuatan kue, namun mereka juga berkesempatan untuk berinteraksi dengan para pemilik bisnis lainnya.

Melalui pengalaman ini, para peserta dan PLDC telah membuka ide untuk membuat Marawi Baker's Guild sehingga mereka dapat berbagi ide dan pengetahuan lebih lanjut tentang bagaimana meningkatkan bisnis dan produk mereka.

"Kami di Pilmico, dan mitra kami dari USAid dan PLDC, sangat senang dan merasa terhormat dapat melaksanakan program yang memberikan dukungan motivasi dan alat yang dibutuhkan oleh para penerima manfaat di Marawi untuk membangun kembali mata pencaharian mereka." - Apol Castro, Wakil Presiden Strategi Korporat & Pengembangan Bisnis

"Kami berharap proyek ini berhasil dan pengetahuan serta keterampilan yang telah mereka dapatkan akan memberikan kepercayaan diri bagi mereka untuk mengembangkan bisnis mereka lebih lanjut." - Florencio Sebandal, Wakil Presiden Operasional Tepung

Sementara itu, seorang peserta pelatihan mengatakan:

"Kata-kata tak cukup untuk mengungkapkan rasa terima kasih kami. Kalian telah sangat membantu kami, terutama bagi sebagian dari kami yang masih minim pengetahuan tentang baking"

Pertanyaan yang Sering Diajukan

How does this training initiative connect to Pilmico’s broader role in conflict-affected communities?
Pilmico’s involvement in training Marawi bakers is one component of a larger, sustained commitment by the Aboitiz Group to support post-siege recovery in Lanao del Sur and surrounding areas. By leveraging its core expertise in flour milling and baking technology as a vehicle for community reconstruction, Pilmico demonstrates that a private company’s specialized knowledge can serve as a direct livelihood recovery tool — not just through donations, but through skills transfer that creates independent, market-capable businesses.

What was the context and purpose of the Marawi baker training program?
More than a year after the Marawi conflict that displaced thousands of families, internally displaced people continued facing severe challenges in rebuilding both their homes and their livelihoods. The training program was a direct response to this humanitarian need — a multi-partner capacity-building initiative implemented by Pilmico, USAID, and the Provincial Livelihood Development Center (PLDC) of Lanao del Sur to help Marawi bakers and bakery owners rebuild their skills and businesses through hands-on practical training.

What was the structure and format of the training workshops?
The training was conducted in two separate batches in September 2018 — one for beginner bakers and one for advanced bakers, with 20 participants each. Workshops ran over three days: the first batch from September 17 to 19 and the second from September 24 to 26. Participants gained both theoretical knowledge of the science of baking and practical hands-on experience. The dual-track approach — separating beginners from more experienced bakers — allowed instruction to be calibrated to each group’s existing skill level rather than using a single generic curriculum for all.

What outcomes beyond baking skills did participants gain from the training?
Beyond technical baking knowledge, participants were given the opportunity to connect with fellow business owners — a form of peer network building that is often as valuable as the skill training itself. Crucially, the training and the connections it fostered sparked the idea of forming a Marawi Baker’s Guild. This peer organization would allow participants to share business knowledge, strategies, and product development insights on an ongoing basis, creating a community of practice rather than a one-time training event.

What did Pilmico leadership say about the purpose and significance of the program?
VP for Corporate Strategy and Business Development Apol Castro emphasized that Pilmico was honored to implement a program that gave beneficiaries both the motivational support and the practical tools they needed to rebuild their livelihoods. VP for Flour Operations Florencio Sebandal expressed hope that the knowledge and skills acquired would give participants the confidence to grow their businesses further. Both statements reflect a view of the partnership not as charity but as a concrete investment in economic recovery capacity.