On their 2nd year of the “Padayon sa Pagbusay (Paddle Unceasingly)” sustainable livelihood program, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. – Microfinance (RAFI-MFI), Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI), and Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) gave egg machine livelihood kits to several families in Samar, Leyte, Negros Oriental, and Misamis Oriental.

In addition to the egg machines, they will be provided with technical and knowledge assistance to better manage their businesses. 

For the benefactors, recovery is the most important step for communities and families to be able to bounce back and become more resilient. It has been over a year since Typhoon Odette devastated provinces in the Visayas region, but its impact still remains especially among the residents whose livelihoods were severely affected. 

AFI President and Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan highlighted the importance of empowering recovering communities. “We in the Aboitiz Foundation try our best to help the communities where we operate. We want to see the communities rise and succeed. Our goal is to help them recover and become more resilient communities. We thank our local partners, the Aboitiz business units, who came together to extend valuable assistance,” she said. 

The Group’s integrated agribusiness and food subsidiary is always ready to extend assistance across the nation. 

“At Pilmico, we’re not just supporting farmers, we’re aiming to elevate the agriculture industry as a whole. With the help of the Aboitiz Foundation, our commitment to empowering farmers nationwide extends beyond this project. It’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to advancing business and communities,”  said Greg Canoy, CSR Supervisor, Pilmico Foods Corporation.

This year they extended more livelihood kits to several families in Samar, Leyte, Negros Oriental and Misamis Oriental in addition to last year’s  beneficiaries in Cebu and Bohol. Each kit includes an egg machine, 144 ready-to-lay hens, Pilmico feeds, a weighing scale, and animal health products.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Pilmco, AFI, at RAFI-MFI na isa ako sa napili na beneficiary sa project na ito. Malaking oportunidad ito para makatulong sa amin. Maraming salamat sa Panginoon para sa biyaya na ito,” said Marietta Cadayday, one of the beneficiaries. 

(I thank Pilmico, AFI, and RAFI-MFI for choosing me as one of the beneficiaries for this project (Padayon sa Pagbusay). This huge opportunity will be of great help to us. Thank God for this blessing.)

“Padayon sa Pagbusay” is part of RAFI-MFI’s livelihood program which aims to empower families by providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.

“This is the start of our rebuilding which includes rebuilding our businesses and rebuilding our lives, not just ours but our families and communities where we belong. These livelihood kits which I am thankful for would not be possible without our partners. We have our grantors who unselfishly provided us with the help in Leyte, Negros Oriental and Misamis Oriental,” said Iris Dorado, Vice President for Business Development, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation. Inc. – Microfinance. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pilmico’s role in this program reflect its broader commitment to the Philippine agriculture sector?
Pilmico’s participation goes beyond distributing feeds and kits – the company also provides ongoing technical assistance and aims to elevate agriculture as a viable economic path for recovering communities. According to Pilmico’s CSR Supervisor, the program reflects a commitment to empowering farmers nationwide and advancing both community welfare and the broader agricultural industry.

What is the ‘Padayon sa Pagbusay’ program and which organizations run it?
Padayon sa Pagbusay, which translates to Paddle Unceasingly, is a sustainable livelihood program run jointly by Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. – Microfinance (RAFI-MFI), Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI), and Pilmico Foods Corporation. Now in its second year, the program provides livelihood kits and business support to families whose incomes were devastated by Typhoon Odette.

Which provinces were reached in the second year of the program, and how does this expand on the first year?
The second year extended livelihood kits to families in Samar, Leyte, Negros Oriental, and Misamis Oriental, building on Year 1 coverage in Cebu and Bohol. This expansion reflects the program’s goal of progressively reaching more typhoon-affected communities across the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

What does each livelihood kit contain, and how is it designed to generate income for beneficiaries?
Each kit includes an egg machine, 144 ready-to-lay hens, Pilmico feeds, a weighing scale, and animal health products. Together, these components provide beneficiary families with everything needed to begin egg production as a micro-enterprise. Pilmico also provides technical assistance and knowledge transfer to help recipients maximize profitability.

How long has it been since Typhoon Odette struck, and why is continued support still necessary?
At the time this article was published, it had been over a year since Typhoon Odette devastated provinces in the Visayas region. While recovery has begun, many affected families still rely on external support to rebuild their livelihoods. The sustained impact of the storm on income generation makes multi-year programs like Padayon sa Pagbusay essential for genuine and lasting community recovery.