Future Bakers at Work. Participants of the “Baking Behind Bars” program master the art of dough handling using Pilmico’s premium flour. Through this partnership with MSU-IIT and BJMP Iligan, Pilmico provides PDLs with industry-standard skills for a sustainable tomorrow. / Photo Courtesy: BJMP-Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory Facebook page
Bringing the core value of responsibility to life, Aboitiz Foods’ subsidiary Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) partnered with the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Iligan for the Baking Behind Bars program in Iligan City.
An initiative of MSU-IIT’s WE CARE Office, the program aims to equip PDLs with sustainable livelihood skills, ensuring they have the tools to become productive members of society upon their reintegration. Thirty-seven PDLs—including 24 men and 13 women—participated in the intensive technical and hands-on training in bread and pastry production from March 12 to 14, 2026, at the BJMP Iligan baking facility.
The three-day workshop introduced participants to the fundamentals of bread making, including flour characteristics, ingredient functionality, and costing—essential knowledge for starting a bakery business.
Guiding the participants throughout the training, Quality Assurance Supervisor for Flour Operations Rodulfo Orong shared the deeper mission behind the sessions.
“The Baking Behind Bars program is aligned with Aboitiz Foods’ commitment to creating shared value with the communities where it operates, including the marginalized communities. Enabling PDLs to access skills training will help them build a sustainable source of livelihood,” said Orong, adding, “It was a great and meaningful experience. More than the technical lessons and skills, we hope this initiative will open more opportunities for PDLs to have a fresh start with renewed hope.”
Through the baking equipment and facility provided by the Department of Science and Technology, participants applied their learning to create products such as cheesy malunggay pandesal, cheesy onion pandesal, and oatmeal cookies, which recipes can be shared to their families.
The Baking Behind Bars program provided PDLs with tools that may help them pursue livelihood opportunities and reintegrate successfully into society. As the ovens cooled and the last loaves were shared, the bread was proof that even behind bars, hope can rise.
“I used to think my hands were only for mistakes. Now, I see they can create something my children might taste one day,” said Mark, one of the participants.
Through initiatives like this, Aboitiz Foods, through Pilmico, continues to demonstrate that creating shared value means empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and forging partnerships to nourish a better future. Read the full article here.
FAQs:
- What is the “Baking Behind Bars” program?
It is a collaborative skills-training initiative designed to provide Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Iligan City Jail with sustainable livelihood skills and a sense of purpose to prepare them for life after detention.
- Who are the key partners involved in this initiative?
The program is a partnership among Aboitiz Foods’ subsidiary Pilmico Foods Corporation,, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) through its WE CARE Office, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Iligan.
- What specific support did Pilmico provide for this training?
Pilmico provided high-quality flour, specialized baking modules, and hands-on technical training for the workshops. They also donated surplus flour and supplies to the BJMP facility to serve as start-up materials for the jail’s internal bakery operations.
