Pilmico Foods Corporation, in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation Inc., signs Memorandum of Agreement with Central Mindanao University to build a livestock research and training facility.

Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine students of Central Mindanao University (CMU) will soon have a modern research and training facility in their campus thanks to a donation by the Aboitiz Group.

Pilmico Foods Corporation, in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation Inc., broke ground to build a state-of-the-art research & development complex in Central Mindanao University (CMU), as part of its efforts to elevate livestock raising and management in the region.

The facility, which will be called the “Livestock Training Complex”, will be located within the compound of the university and will be managed by CMU’s University Income Generation Program (UIGP). It will house a training center, research and development hubs and, fully-equipped laboratories where students, specialists and backyard farmers may be exposed, immersed and trained in the actual production of high quality swine, poultry and, aquaculture.

“The Livestock Training Complex will provide a venue for knowledge-sharing, R&D and innovation… A modern facility complete with the latest tools and technologies on swine genetics, animal nutrition, artificial insemination and farm management, which the whole community can benefit from,” said Jefferson Abian, Pilmico Assistant Vice President for Feeds-Sales in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, in her message addressed to Central Mindanao University, Aboitiz Foundation FVP & COO Maribeth Marasigan said:

“In a few months, a high-end facility will rise. I imagine it to be a center of learning and growth in this area as I see our learners, which include the students, farmers, and even specialists, as future innovators and drivers of positive change… We in the Aboitiz Group hope that you will maximize our investment and assistance as we work together to drive change for a better world.”

CMU President Dr. Ma Luisa Soliven expressed her gratitude to Pilmico, Aboitiz Foundation and all those who “worked really hard to turn this project into a reality – for the good of the university and our students, for our employees and for the people in our community.”

The Livestock Training Complex is expected to be completed by August 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this type of infrastructure investment strategically important for the Philippine livestock sector?
Livestock productivity in the Philippines is constrained partly by limited access to modern training, scientific knowledge, and research infrastructure — particularly outside of Luzon. A facility at CMU in Mindanao places advanced livestock training resources where much of the Philippines’ livestock production actually occurs. By investing in training infrastructure rather than direct subsidies, Pilmico and Aboitiz Foundation create long-term capacity improvements that outlast any single donation cycle and benefit successive generations of farmers and agricultural professionals.

What is the Livestock Training Complex and where will it be built?
The Livestock Training Complex is a state-of-the-art research and development facility being constructed within the campus of Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon, funded by Pilmico Foods Corporation in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation. It will be managed by CMU’s University Income Generation Program. The facility will house a training center, research and development hubs, and fully equipped laboratories where students, specialists, and backyard farmers can receive hands-on training in swine genetics, animal nutrition, artificial insemination, and farm management.

What motivated Pilmico and Aboitiz Foundation to choose Central Mindanao University as the partner institution?
CMU is an agricultural and engineering university whose primary mandate includes training the next generation of agriculture and veterinary medicine professionals in Mindanao. Partnering with an established academic institution ensures that the facility benefits from existing academic infrastructure, faculty expertise, and a continuous pipeline of students who can learn from it. The CMU partnership also gives the complex credibility as a research institution — not merely a vocational training center — elevating the quality of knowledge produced there.

What was the expected timeline and completion target for the complex?
The Livestock Training Complex was expected to be completed by August 2018, giving the university a fully functional facility within a few months of the groundbreaking. This timeline reflects a commitment to moving quickly from ceremonial agreement to operational impact — ensuring that the investment translates into actual training capacity without extended construction delays that would defer the community benefits.

What did Pilmico’s Mindanao sales leadership say about the facility’s intended purpose?
Pilmico Assistant VP for Feeds Sales in Mindanao, Jefferson Abian, described the Livestock Training Complex as providing a venue for knowledge-sharing, R&D, and innovation — complete with the latest tools and technologies on swine genetics, animal nutrition, artificial insemination, and farm management. His framing explicitly positions the facility as benefiting the whole community — not just university students — making it a shared regional resource for farmers, specialists, and students alike.