A-PAD Philippines convened its first Regional Partners (RP) Meeting in Central Visayas on January 28, 2025 at Quest Hotel, Cebu City, bringing together key stakeholders to introduce the Microenterprise Resilience Program (MRP) and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The gathering aimed to foster a shared understanding of the program, align strategies for its regional rollout, and identify potential synergies among partners. Carefully selected participants from business, government, academe, and civil society provided valuable insights that will shape the program’s implementation in the region.
One of the meeting’s highlights was the strong interest expressed by Atty. Clifford Rivera, representing the Fraternal Order of Eagles Central Visayas, to launch an MRP training in Toledo City. Commending the program’s relevance to both the business sector and local communities, Atty. Rivera pledged to present it to his organization and sponsor a training run in the city.
This initiative quickly gained support from other partners, including Ms. Joy Lorena Segismar of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dr. Richie Montebon of the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue, along with local trainers in Central Visayas.
The Department of Trade and Industry Region VII, through Ms. Marilyn Tancinco, also expressed interest in conducting a Training of Trainers for its business counselors, while PhilExport Cebu’s Ms. Maybellene Sarmiento proposed an Awareness Seminar on business resilience for its members.
Organizations represented at the meeting included the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PhilExport Cebu, University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue, Fraternal Order of Eagles Central Visayas, DTI Region VII, Central Visayas Information Sharing Network, University of the Southern Philippines, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Cebu City Business Permits and Licensing Office, Office of the Civil Defense Region VII, Philippine Information Agency Central Visayas, and the A-PAD PH Human Resource Network.
The meeting concluded with all partners affirming their commitment to strengthen disaster resilience in the region by signing a Statement of Support for A-PAD PH’s ongoing initiatives.