Cebu businesses bolster efforts for disaster resilience, recovery

Cebu's private sector is accelerating efforts to formalize disaster response and climate resilience partnerships after a string of calamities battered households and businesses across the Cebu province over the past three months.

- EHDA M. DAGOOC

An earthquake in November 2025, followed by Typhoons Tino and Uwan in December and a landfill collapse in Binaliw, Cebu City in January 2026, exposed the vulnerability of urban communities and underscored the limits of fragmented relief efforts.

Business leaders and civil society groups say the scale of recent events is forcing companies to move beyond ad hoc aid toward coordinated, long-term risk reduction strategies.

"The world, the country, and nature are evolving quickly. Businesses cannot be mere observers," said Shem Jose Garcia, executive director of Vivant Foundation Inc. "We need to do more, to be more. But we also have to be realistic about limited resources. This is why collaboration is important."

The League of Corporate Foundations and Cebu Landmasters Foundation Inc. will co-host the first Corporate Social Responsibility convention in the Visayas starting today Feb.4 to Feb. 5 at Maayo Hotel in Mandaue City, one of the areas heavily affected by flooding during Typhoon Tino.

Organizers say the gathering aims to establish a regional network linking corporations, local governments and nonprofits to pool funding, expertise and manpower in disaster preparedness and recovery.