Farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Nueva Ecija are strengthening disaster preparedness and business continuity strategies to protect agricultural investments, sustain livelihoods, and minimize disruptions caused by natural calamities and other emergencies.
The Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up conducted a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Training and Business Continuity Planning (BCP) Workshop from September 29 to October 1, 2026, for FCAs implementing enterprise subprojects.
The initiative comes amid mounting climate-related threats to Central Luzon’s agricultural sector. According to the Office of Civil Defense, recent tropical cyclones and southwest monsoon rains caused more than ₱1 billion in agricultural damage across the region, affecting over 27,000 farmers and fisherfolk.
Beyond crop losses and damaged infrastructure, disasters threaten agricultural enterprises through disrupted supply chains, reduced cash flow, and difficulties meeting market commitments.
Conducted in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and the Nueva Ecija provincial government, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office, the workshop equipped participants with practical strategies to identify risks, assess vulnerabilities, and sustain critical business operations during emergencies.
Participants underwent Hazard, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis exercises, focusing on threats such as typhoons, drought, pest infestations, disease outbreaks, power interruptions, and supply chain disruptions.
For Kalasag Multi-Purpose Cooperative officer Russel Prymleader Gonzales, the training reinforced the importance of protecting the cooperative’s 18-year legacy.
“For 18 years, our founders have poured their time, dedication, and hard work into nurturing KALASAG and helping it grow and flourish,” Gonzales said.
He emphasized that disaster preparedness and business continuity planning are essential to safeguarding the cooperative’s achievements and ensuring its sustainability for future generations.
The initiative forms part of DA-PRDP Scale-Up’s continuing efforts to strengthen agricultural enterprises by integrating disaster risk management into cooperative governance and business operations.
Through improved preparedness and resilience planning, farmer organizations are better positioned to protect their assets, safeguard members’ livelihoods, and sustain agricultural productivity even during crises.
