Businesses brace for typhoon Ruby

CEBU, Philippines - Now with lessons learned from past calamities, most businesses have already put in place disaster preparedness measures, thus the threat of another super typhoon to possibly hit Visayas is seen to bring about lesser tension and panic and minimal losses.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ma. Teresa B. Chan said since typhoon Ruby is expected to hit on Saturday wherein most businesses are close, impact to business operations will be very minimal. She added that since offices will be totally closed, companies can even save from overhead expenses.

However, Chan said the impact of the typhoon would differ depending on the kind of business operation the establishment is in, but since most firms have already incorporated this kind of situation to their crisis management programs and disaster preparedness platform, lesser damage or none at all is expected.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph on the other hand said that as of the moment businesses are still on a "play by ear basis," but believes that being flexible to employees in this kind of situation is not a question.

He, however, said that in terms of disaster protection, risk mitigation and disaster response, not all companies are 100 percent ready.

The retail sector is also preparing for the typhoon but the decision to close shop will depend on the development of the weather in the next few hours.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu) president Robert Go said that estimates on possible business losses cannot be determined yet, as even the movement and path of the typhoon's eye is still not final yet.

Likewise, Islands Pasalubong Group president Jay Aldeguer, said that his company is constantly monitoring the situation and sending information blast to outlets as early as Tuesday that those prone to get hit should not operate.

"We have no estimate for losses though," Aldeguer said.

San Miguel Brewery Inc., corporate communications officer for Central and Eastern Visayas Romelinda Garces said the company is constantly monitoring updates on the weather but since they have in-placed contingency and crisis management plans, somehow the tension is lessened.

Schools and government offices were shut in parts of the central Philippines on Thursday and residents stocked up on supplies and food, as provinces are yet to recover from last year's devastating super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) are braced for another category 5 storm.

As of this writing, typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) was churning across the Pacific around 860 km (585 miles) east of the island nation on Thursday, the local weather bureau said, packing winds of up to 195 kph (120 mph) with gusts of up to 230 kph.

It was expected to strengthen to a category 5 storm before slamming into Eastern Samar on Saturday, the weather bureau said. (FREEMAN)