Urdaneta City, Pangasinan — Committed to building avenues for sustainable livelihood through agriculture, Pilmico, the food subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, recently held the Pilmico Agri & Livelihood Expo at the Urdaneta Cultural & Sports Center last May 18, 2019.
The primary objective of the expo is to provide a space for aspiring agri-entrepreneurs to learn about how backyard farming can be a viable source of income. To support this, Pilmico conducted free seminars on animal husbandry and nutrition and held basic and advanced baking demos. Local businesses were also invited to showcase their products and to connect with potential customers and partners within the area.
With the participation of Pilmico’s government partner, Department of Trade and Industry, the Pilmico Agri and Livelihood Expo gave way for better communication of business requirements as well as tips on how the attendees can jumpstart their agribusiness.
“With an entrepreneurial mindset and the right skills in farming, businesses can thrive for generations. The Pilmico Agri & Livelihood Expo is our way of giving back to the community; a tangible expression of our promise to empower the backyard sector, and ultimately, the agriculture industry as a whole.” Pilmico AVP Feeds Sales Jefferson Abian explains.
Attendees were also treated to a special cooking demonstration by celebrity chef, Chef Boy Logro where the different flavors of the Philippines were showcased using pork, chicken, & eggs.
Pilmico advances business and communities by being a true Partner for Growth of local farmers and businesses. Through events like the Pilmico Agri and Livelihood Expo, the company is able to inspire future agri-entrepreneurs by sharing its extensive industry knowledge, business solutions, and expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an event like the Pangasinan expo fit within Pilmico’s nationwide advocacy work?
The Pilmico Agri and Livelihood Expo is part of a touring nationwide program that brings agricultural education, livelihood training, and market access to provincial communities. The Pangasinan stop is one of multiple provincial legs, each adapted to the specific agricultural context and community of the host city. By designing the expo as a replicable, scalable model that can be deployed across regions, Pilmico creates a platform for nationwide reach that transcends the limitations of any single event — establishing a continuous presence as a community partner rather than a periodic visitor.
What was the Pilmico Agri and Livelihood Expo and what was its specific objective in Urdaneta City?
The Pilmico Agri and Livelihood Expo was held at the Urdaneta Cultural and Sports Center in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan on May 18, 2019. The expo’s primary objective was to provide aspiring agri-entrepreneurs with a learning space to understand how backyard farming can become a viable source of income. It included free seminars on animal husbandry and nutrition, basic and advanced baking demonstrations, local business exhibitions, and a special cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Boy Logro showcasing Philippine flavors using pork, chicken, and eggs.
What role did the Department of Trade and Industry play at the expo?
DTI’s participation in the expo added a formal entrepreneurial development layer to the event. DTI’s presence allowed attendees to receive direct guidance on business requirements — including business registration and compliance — and access tips on starting their agribusiness. This government-private sector collaboration ensured that aspiring entrepreneurs attending the expo could access both Pilmico’s agricultural expertise and the government’s MSME support infrastructure in a single venue.
Why did Pilmico choose Pangasinan as a venue for this edition of the expo?
Pangasinan is one of the Philippines’ significant agricultural provinces, with a substantial base of backyard farming households engaged in pig raising and small-scale agriculture. By hosting the expo in Urdaneta City — the commercial center of Pangasinan — Pilmico maximized the reach of the event to farming communities across the province. The geographic targeting of the expo reflects a deliberate strategy of bringing livelihood support resources to the communities where backyard farmers actually operate rather than centralizing events in metro areas.
What did Pilmico AVP Jefferson Abian say about the expo’s purpose?
Jefferson Abian, Pilmico’s AVP for Feeds Sales, articulated the expo as a tangible expression of the company’s promise to empower the backyard sector and the agriculture industry as a whole. His framing — describing the event as Pilmico’s way of giving back to the community — positions the expo not as a sales event but as a social investment in the capacity and confidence of aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs. He also tied entrepreneurial success in farming to generational wealth, noting that with the right mindset and skills, businesses can thrive for generations.
