Aboitiz Group trains La Trinidad LGU and MSMEs on business continuity
Recognizing Benguet’s vulnerability to disasters, the local government of the provincial capital La Trinidad partnered with the Aboitiz Group to promote self-reliance among cooperatives operating in the municipality.
The Aboitiz Group, through its units Aboitiz Foundation, WeatherPhilippines Foundation, Aboitiz Equity Ventures – Risk and Security, and Hedcor Benguet, as well as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted a series of disaster resilience-related training workshops for five cooperatives in La Trinidad, Benguet: Thanksgiving Multipurpose Cooperative, Barangay Alapang Multipurpose Cooperative, Lamut Multipurpose Cooperative, and Shilan Multipurpose Cooperative.
This training coincided with the International Day of Cooperatives 2019 (Coops Day) last July 6. Coops Day celebrates increased awareness of cooperatives, underscoring the contributions of the cooperative movement in resolving major problems identified by the United Nations. It also strengthens partnerships between the international cooperative movement and the other groups.
“Our vision in Aboitiz is to create self-reliant communities and organizations by raising awareness on disaster resilience and preparedness. We hope this kind of training is put to good use by our empowered partners in their everyday lives,” said Maribeth L. Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to the session with the cooperatives, a training was conducted to enable participants to create their own business continuity plans. The participants came from La Trinidad Cooperative Development Office, La Trinidad Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), Benguet State University, Cooperative Development Authority – Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), and CAR Cooperative Union.
The workshops covered topics on the basic concept of DRRM, hydromet (hydrological and meteorological), geologic hazards, and business continuity plans, which resulted in a risk-informed business continuity plan.
“The Training of Trainers brought new challenges for the LGU of La Trinidad. We have been conducting various DRRM efforts in the locality but we missed to have business continuity plan for our workplace. The training made us realize that for us to be effective BCP trainers, we have to develop our own plan,” said Orlando Pacya, La Trinidad Cooperative Development Office Head.
These training sessions were conducted in adherence to the Aboitiz Group’s promise of advancing business and communities by co-creating safe, empowered, and sustainable communities.
