THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCII) plans to revise the conduct of the business continuity plan (BCP) seminars to increase the participation of the micro and small enterprises in Davao City.
PCCII regional governor for Davao Region Arturo Milan said they will be devising a template for BCP the business owners can fill out.
The businesses will also be given an option to attend training as short as two hours instead of the two-day seminar that they are currently providing.
“Kana man gud atong micro and small, sila nay manager, purchaser, ahente, rolled into one (The owners of micro and small business are usually the managers, purchasers, agents rolled into one). So they cannot stay out of their business for two consecutive days. So that is really the challenge,” he said in a press conference Monday, January 27.
The business continuity plan lays down the measures business can take in case they will be affected by natural or man-made disasters.
He noted the impact of the earthquakes that hit Davao del Sur late last year was mostly felt by micro and small businesses.
“In terms of vulnerability to calamities, they are really vulnerable. Dapat kabalo sila magpadayon sa ilang business despite naay calamity (They should know how to continue with their business despite the calamities),” he said.
“[The] business continuity plan has normally three major aspect – plan on people, process, ug facility. What will you do [if these will be affected by calamities],” he said.
Milan bared 99.2 percent of business enterprises in Davao Region are micro and small and most of them do not have a BCP.
Among the members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII), which Milan chaired in 2019, he said less than 20 businesses were able to join their two-day seminar.
He said they are targeting produce the BCP template within this year.
He also said the PCCII will try to engage the local government units to work with their local chambers of commerce and industry to teach local businesses craft their own BCPs.
“We feel that the skills that one will acquire can be very advantageous in trying to not only will make your business successful but to be continuous. Naay sustainability ang imong negosyo (It will make their business sustainable),” he said.
He said this is important since the number of micro and small businesses in the region are growing.
“This is because of the very good business environment that we have right now,” he said.