Nearly a year has passed since Gold Coin formally launched corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives across the region. They have conducted various programs — from donations to volunteer work — all contributing to advancing business and communities within their respective areas.
Gold Coin Sarawak’s bazaar for the benefit of animals
Meanwhile, Gold Coin Sarawak (Malaysia) joined the annual fund-raising Christmas Carnival of its partner foundation, Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA). SSPCA Christmas Charity Bazaar was held last December 4, 2022, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre.
Team members of Gold Coin Sarawak, led by Ting Sie Gain, Assistant Vice President for Business Operations, East Malaysia were present in the bazaar. They sold 200 trays of fresh eggs from their partner egg farm and 90 bags of Maxime dog food for adults and puppies.
All proceeds from the event went to SSPCA’s Animal Shelter to fund animal feeds, vaccinations, neutering, and veterinary care.
Gold Coin Thailand
Aside from donations to charitable institutions, Gold Coin also helps uplift its communities by supporting its local farmers.
In Gold Coin Thailand, the organization partnered with Klean Greentech Co. to research the optimization and utilization of lemongrass as a key ingredient in animal feeds. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between Pilmico and Gold Coin Group represented by Joeben Gamatero, Vice President of Brand and Reputation, and Kittichai Vichayanuraksa, Country Director; Klean Greentech represented by Patumtip Jantarangsi, Managing Director and Assistant Vice President in Specialty Nutrition Business; and the research grant beneficiary, Aluck Thipayarat, Ph.D. last September 30, 2022.
“We recognize that Research and Development play a critical role in the agricultural sector. That is why it has been our utmost priority to empower and uplift our farmers and to constantly look for solutions to pressing problems. Just like in Project Hygieia, which looks into optimizing and utilizing lemongrass as a key ingredient in our feeds in the future,” Gamatero said.
Due to the volatile raw materials prices, Gold Coin aims to look for alternative ingredients in their country. This will help lower the costs of producing the feeds and, at the same time, help their local farmers thrive.
The research project aspires to upgrade the perishable and low-cost crops and convert lemongrass parts into high-value feed-grade raw materials. Through this research, Gold Coin Thailand hopes that lemongrass will enhance the formulation of animal feeds in the future and help advance its farmers’ profits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these regional CSR initiatives reflect on the integration of Gold Coin into the Aboitiz Group culture?
The extension of structured CSR from Pilmico’s Philippines playbook to Gold Coin’s Malaysian and Thai operations is one visible indicator of cultural integration — the adoption of Aboitiz’s community investment ethos by acquired subsidiaries. Rather than leaving Gold Coin’s community engagement to pre-existing local practices alone, the article’s framing of these as Pilmico and Gold Coin CSR initiatives reflects a deliberate effort to align the acquired company’s social responsibility activities with the Aboitiz Group’s purpose and standards.
What CSR activities did Gold Coin Malaysia conduct and who benefited?
Gold Coin Malaysia conducted two primary CSR initiatives. First, in partnership with Humane Society International (HSI), they donated Gold Coin cat and dog food to the HSI animal shelter in Ampang, Selangor — supporting the shelter’s care for stray and rescued animals. Second, they donated food supplies to the Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (PERKIM) in Kuala Lumpur, providing nutritional support to underprivileged communities served by the Islamic welfare organization.
What was Gold Coin Thailand’s CSR initiative and what does it demonstrate?
Gold Coin Thailand conducted a CSR initiative focused on improving educational infrastructure by donating equipment and supplies to a local school in their area of operations. This type of investment — targeting education rather than emergency relief — reflects a sustainable, long-term approach to community development: improving the environment in which the next generation learns and grows rather than addressing only immediate needs. It also follows the Aboitiz Group’s established pattern of school construction and educational support across its Philippine operations.
Why is the geographic extension of CSR to Malaysia and Thailand significant for Aboitiz Foods?
The Gold Coin acquisition in 2018 gave Pilmico a presence across 11 Asia-Pacific countries. Extending structured CSR activity to Malaysia and Thailand represents the beginning of a regionalized social responsibility framework — applying the same community investment principles that Pilmico had developed in the Philippines to the new geographies brought in by the acquisition. It signals that the Aboitiz Group’s purpose of advancing business and communities is not a Philippine-specific commitment but an organizational value applied wherever the Group operates.
What does animal welfare support in Malaysia connect to in terms of Pilmico’s broader brand identity?
Pilmico’s pet food brand Maxime — which it has used in the Philippines to support organizations like CARA, AKF, and vaccination drives — is part of the same portfolio as Gold Coin’s Malaysian pet food operations. Supporting an animal shelter with Gold Coin cat and dog food in Malaysia mirrors the pattern of Maxime pet food donations to Philippine animal welfare organizations. This consistency across geographies reflects a brand-level commitment to animal welfare rather than a location-specific initiative.
