Entrepreneurs gathered during the First World Coconut Congress in the Philippines last 2018
Photo file/THEPHILBIZNEWS
By THEPHILBIZNEWS STAFF
As uncertainty in the business and economy remain due to the COVID19 pandemic, government and private groups urged the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owners to prepare for natural and human-induced hazards to continue operating and recover from these events.
In the joint advisory made through the MSME Guide to Disaster Resilience by the Department of Trade and Industry, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Philippines have developed and launched this to equip these firms with tools that are essential in keeping their businesses safe in times of disaster.
“Most local businesses in this sector have not done risk-informed planning and disaster preparedness measures in the past. And so, there is a need for MSMEs to work towards minimizing their vulnerability to hazards through the creation and implementation of business continuity plans (BCP) and disaster resilience programs,” the guide said.
It said failing to develop their own BCP may eventually leave these businesses susceptible to a variety of emerging and existing risks.
“A disaster gives rise to casualties on properties, infrastructure, environment, essential services, and other human losses that exceed the affected community’s capacity to cope using its own resources.
Disasters, specifically, can have life-altering effects on individuals and communities, leading to human, material, economic, and environmental losses.” it added.
Hazards that can affect an MSME include epidemics, power shortage, flash flood, earthquake, landslide, fire incidents, civil unrest, volcanic eruption, tsunami, and drought.
“Planning should include knowing how the business will be able to recover once impacted by a disruptive scenario. Determining which activity within the business should be recovered first will help in an orderly and timely recovery,” the guide said.
It underscored the need to determine resource requirements, including people, equipment, raw materials and utility services; and important business activities.
“Ask yourself: What will you do if there are no telecommunication services, no connectivity, no banking services, no accessibility/logistics services?,” the guide told MSME owners.
“Identify what resources are needed in order for the business to operate.”
MSMEs should likewise understand how disaster risks easily threaten them and their prioritized actions, processes, partners, and products, it said.
“In developing your emergency preparedness plan, it is important that your enterprise has resilience strategies in place that can help you during a disaster. Come up with your own Resilience Strategies for your resources (people, equipment, stocks, building, records, business partners and suppliers) during disaster preparedness, response, and recovery,” it added.
To help the business community recover, the guide said several programs and services have been put in place to help MSMEs address loss of productivity and revenue after a disaster.
“…MSMEs are supported by both public and private sectors through loan programs, rehabilitation funds, and insurance protection to ensure the smooth recovery of these local enterprises,” it added.