Partners for growth. Aboitiz Foods representatives, led by President and CEO Tristan Aboitiz (fourth from right), met with the representatives from the Infinity Vocational Training School Inc. (IVTSI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Tarlac Provincial Office to finalize a tripartite collaboration, providing a TESDA-accredited meat butchery skills training opportunity at the highly commended Tarlac Meatmasters facility.
In Tarlac, Philippines, Aboitiz Foods’ subsidiary Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (Pilmico) has partnered with Infinity Vocational Training School Inc. (IVTSI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to deliver hands-on technical training at its Tarlac Meatmasters facility.
Through the collaboration, trainees are undertaking TESDA-certified Slaughtering Operations and Retail Meat Cutting courses inside the country’s first multi-meat Triple AAA-accredited facility, gaining practical experience in an environment that reflects the highest standards of food safety, quality, and operational discipline.
Josh Douglas, Aboitiz Foods’ Assistant Technical Director for Meats Operations, said the partnership reflects Pilmico’s belief that investing in people is just as important as investing in facilities.
“Developing people is essential to building a stronger meat industry. By opening Tarlac Meatmasters for hands-on training, we hope to give aspiring professionals the opportunity to build practical skills while learning the discipline and food safety practices that define our operations,” said Douglas, adding, “Through partnerships like this, we aim to contribute to a stronger talent pipeline for the Philippine meat industry.”
Pilmico’s Tarlac Meatmasters serves as both a commercial meat processing facility and a practical learning environment where trainees experience the day-to-day standards of modern meat production. Its Triple AAA accreditations for Slaughterhouse (2021), Meat Cutting Plant (2023), and Cold Storage Warehouse (2025) reflect the company’s longstanding commitment to food safety, quality, and operational excellence.
By making its facilities available for technical education, Pilmico helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical industry experience, enabling trainees to develop competencies that meet the evolving needs of the local and global meat industry.
