DTI slates business continuity seminar for MSMEs

CEBU, Philippines — To help micro-small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) survive through the health crisis, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Cebu) launched its Business Continuity Planning (BCP) seminar.

A hundred MSMEs are set to undertake a two-part online capacity training under the DTI-BCP to withstand the pandemic and future disruptions.

In a statement, DTI-Cebu director Rose Mae Quiñanola announced the launching of first batch of the training course facilitated by DTI Cebu, through its Negosyo Center and SME Roving Academy.

“The year 2020 was difficult for everyone, but was particularly tough especially for our MSMEs. The months of lockdown led to the scarcity of funds and a fall in demand led many people to close their businesses. Many businesses that rely to foot traffic and in-person transactions were struggling to stay afloat,” said Quiñanola.

DTI recognizes the major role of MSMEs in the country’s economic development through income and job generation, hence, the development of this online training, she added.

This workshop aims to orient the participants (MSMEs) on the concept of a BCP and guide them in preparing their BCP in the context of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Quiñanola said that the program will help the MSMEs identify the key resources they need, assess the risk that they may encounter and most especially on how to develop their capabilities to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters so as to enhance their resiliency by training them to develop their own BCPs.

BCP trainer and consultant Miriam Bacalso said that the course will consist of self-assessment process and action planning which will be consolidated to comprise the BCP of the MSME.

“After each topic is discussed and corresponding action of participants is required, the participants will fill out the templates which will be provided. These will be their guide in applying their learnings into their own company’s situation,” Bacalso explained.

The first batch of the BCP training consist of fifty identified and assisted MSMEs of the Negosyo Centers in the province. This is also participated and simultaneously presented on the countryside for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries in Tuburan, Bogo, Naga and Toledo.

“I hope to know and learn strategies on how to maintain business operations during and after a disaster, and what support we can get from government agencies when this happen,” said Daanbantayan bakeshop owner Evangeline Lauron.

Fifty slots for the second batch will be made open to the public and is scheduled on April 27, 2021.