DOST to promote business continuity principles to MSMEs
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) wants to promote disaster resilience to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in all regions through adoption of business continuity principles in their enterprises.
The DOST had started off their Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) celebrations late July to early August in Region 3 or Central Luzon with a presentation on business continuity, in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resiliency Foundation (PDRF).
Julius Caesar Sicat, DOST Central Luzon regional director, said the business continuity lecture given by PDRF was held during the second day of the Region 3 RSTW on July 31 at the Vista Mall in Balanga, Bataan, which focused on the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrade Program (SETUP) whose beneficiaries are the country’s MSMEs in the countryside.
Under SETUP, the DOST provides assistance to MSMEs primarily in the form of equipment and technical expertise consultancy. The MSMEs pay back the DOST for the cost of equipment assistance in a three-year period without interest.
Sicat said the promotion of disaster resilience and business continuity was done in compliance with a directive for a “strong push” ordered by DOST Undersecretary for disaster risk reduction and climate change Renato Solidum Jr., for all DOST regional offices and attached agencies to implement disaster preparedness plans especially in view of concerns for the “Big One,” referring to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that could be generated by the West Valley Fault, which state seismologists warned is “ripe for movement.”
Sicat said that Solidum wanted this disaster resilience mindset to be ingrained not just throughout DOST and its attached agencies, but also among its various stakeholders, partners and beneficiaries.
“We want them all to be conscious about the need to consider preparedness and capacity to pursue business continuity,” Sicat told The STAR.
The Region 3 RSTW was the first regional S&T week celebration for the year, with the next taking place late last week in Region 8 or Eastern Visayas covering Leyte and Samar provinces, including Tacloban and Ormoc City, which were devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda six years ago.
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