UP ISSI staff highlights HANDA program in WIN DRR – Ph launch event
PASAY CITY – University Extension Specialist from the Institute for Small-Scale Industries of the University of the Philippines emphasized the impact of Honing Agents for National Disaster Awareness (HANDA) Program: Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning (BCP) for MSMEs in a panel discussion during the website and network launch event of the Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction – Philippines Chapter in the Director’s Club, Mall of Asia last April 26.
Ms. Joanna Rose T. Laddaran, focal person of the HANDA program, shared that part of the course is equipping the micro, small, and medium enterprises with the knowledge and skills in conducting Business Continuity Planning.
“Our BCP program is guided by the MSME realities on the ground; in our study on the impacts of the COVID-19 on women in the informal economy, we found out that these women entrepreneurs faced multiple burdens,” Laddaran explained.
She also added that during the pre-pandemic, they were already earning less than the living wage (250 a day) and during the pandemic, they suffered financially even more.
“As we train individuals coming from the MSME sector, they share their learning to their employees and co-workers, as well as their family members and their community; thus, we continuously develop a culture of resilience in the country,” she said.
The panel also included chairperson Sandy Montano, Philippine Commission for Women, Atty. Violeta Seva, Earthquake and Mega cities Initiatives, Ms. Minet Jerusalem, Leyte Center for Development, Dr. Angela Zafra, Strategia Development Research Institute, Inc., Dr. Marqueza Reyes, Asian Institute of Management, Chairperson Rosemarie Rafael, Airspeed International Corporation, and Chief Superintendent Belinda Ochave.
Dr. Teresita Medado, President of Asia Pacific College and WIN DRR PH Convenor and Engr. Liza B. Silerio, ARISE Global Board Member and Vice President for Corporate Compliance Group, SM Supermalls delivered the opening remarks and welcome message respectively, while Sen. Loren Legarda served as the Keynote Speaker highlighting the laws and initiatives aligned with environmental preservation, waste management and disaster preparedness.
UP ISSI Gender and Development Committee focal person Jake A. Villanueva and Communities of Practice for Entrepreneurship (COPE) program manager Allyssa Anne Mari-De Guzman were invited to attend the event.
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