(Photo source: Faceboook)

The Center for Humanitarian Learning and Innovation (CHLI) Director Dong Waña was invited to act as resource person on Business Continuity Management (BCM) for Cooperatives during the Bicol Regional Cooperative Congress 2019.

Organized by the Masbate Provincial Cooperative Development Council, Masbate City Cooperative Development Council, Cooperative Union of Masbate and Masbate City LGU in partnership with the Regional Cooperative Development Council and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), the congress was held in Masbate City on April 10-11, 2019 with the theme “Pag Solbar San Kapobrehan, Kooperatiba an Kaipuhan (To Solve Poverty, Cooperatives are Needed)”. Around 350 representatives from different types and sizes of cooperatives from the six provinces within the Bicol region joined the event.

“There are about 26,000 cooperatives that are registered in the Philippines, with an aggregate membership of at least 13 million. It is time to think how local cooperatives can prepare and continue to operate amidst any minor or major disaster that may happen”, Waña emphasized to the participants of the breakout session.

Among four simultaneous breakout sessions, BCM generated the biggest interest among Congress participants with almost a third of them joining the session. The three-hour session covered the importance of business continuity management, understanding of related concepts and the key steps of Business Continuity Planning.

Noting the high level of interest and participation during the session, Waña took advantage of the opportunity to encourage the participants and their cooperatives to explore ways they can get continuing learning and support on BCM. One way is to get support from Cooperative Development Specialists previously trained by CHLI on BCM in 2016. Another way is to access the BCM introductory e-learning course developed by the former Philippines Academy Center of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) on Kaya Connect, HLA’s e-learning platform.

Moreover, the establishment of CHLI in the Philippines presents several opportunities for cooperatives to access related learning and technical services from the Center.

Waña urged the participants:

“The Cooperative movement plays an important role in achieving inclusive economic development. We must ensure that cooperatives are ready and equipped with adequate knowledge and resources against risks that may threaten their very existence.”

For more information, email: chli@code-ngo.org