Aboitiz Spreads Sunshine And Positive Energy To Local Bakery
Victor SilvaWe are really glad that Aboitiz did not forget us even during the pandemic. This support is a big help that will allow us to continue operating through the pandemic.
– Menrado Intong, Chairman, Sunshine Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative
Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and enterprises have slowly found their footing in the new normal. Larger business organizations are already positioned towards recovery while micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are still the hardest hit by subsequent quarantines, stringent public health protocols, and generally lower demand.
Sunshine Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (Sunshine MPC) was one of the enterprises that were fortunate to continue operations amid the pandemic. The cooperative runs Sunshine Bakeshop located in Brgy. Sirawan, Toril, Davao City.
The cooperative recently received livelihood restarter kits in the form of 27 sacks of Pilmico flour through Aboitiz Foundation and Therma South, Inc. (TSI).
The assistance was given in a bid to help alleviate the impacts of the pandemic on the community’s livelihood.
“We are really glad that Aboitiz did not forget us even during the pandemic. This support is a big help that will allow us to continue operating through the pandemic,” said Sunshine MPC Chairman Menrado Intong.
Therma South and Aboitiz Foundation have been supporting the community-based cooperative as early as 2016. The cooperative had previously been on the brink of dissolving, but TSI and Aboitiz Foundation’s support was able to help revitalize the cooperative.
The first assistance came in the form of seed capital to help the cooperative transition from processing chicken innards to a bakeshop venture.
This was immediately followed by sponsoring NC-II training for baking and pastry-making for members of the cooperative and providing baking equipment to them.
