DOST tech clinic helps Eastern Visayas businesses protect livelihoods from disasters

For small business owners in disaster-prone Eastern Visayas, a powerful typhoon or other natural calamity can mean more than damaged properties. It can disrupt daily operations, cut off income, and threaten the livelihoods of workers and their families.

To help businesses prepare for these risks, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has partnered with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Tacloban-Leyte Inc. to introduce a Technology Clinic that connects entrepreneurs and local government units (LGUs) with science-based disaster preparedness solutions.

The initiative was launched during the 2026 HANDA Pilipinas: Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Ligtas at Matatag na Bayan, held from October 7 to 9 at the Leyte Convention Center in Palo, Leyte.

DOST Eastern Visayas Regional Director John Glenn D. Ocaña said businesses are among the sectors most vulnerable to disasters, making preparedness essential to protecting jobs, investments, and sources of income.

“One of the sectors that is highly affected and very vulnerable to disasters is the business sector. That’s why we had this collaboration so that our business sector can also learn how they can prepare if disaster strikes. The key to resilience is preparation. So, they need to know what they should know before, during, and after a disaster,” Ocaña said during a press conference.

For PCCI Tacloban-Leyte Inc. President Henry Y. Goysico, disaster resilience is not simply about keeping businesses afloat but also about ensuring that employees and communities can continue earning a living despite disruptions.

“For business, resilience means more than surviving disruption. It means protecting our people, keeping our businesses operating, preserving livelihoods, and having the capacity to recover and emerge stronger,” Goysico said.

Unlike traditional technology exhibitions, the Technology Clinic allows business owners and LGU representatives to sit down with experts, discuss their specific challenges, and identify solutions suited to their communities.

Through a technology needs assessment tool, participants can determine gaps in their disaster preparedness plans and receive referrals to government agencies capable of providing the necessary assistance.

DOST Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Unit Project Development Officer IV Rachelle Anne L. Miranda likened the process to visiting a doctor, where identifying a problem comes before recommending treatment.

“It’s like a medical clinic. You’ll go there, and we’ll help you assess what your ‘symptoms are’ or your needs in your local government units, business, about climate and disaster resilience,” Miranda explained.

The clinic also recognizes that businesses and communities face different risks, requiring interventions that go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

Miranda said protecting existing investments and livelihoods is essential to preventing communities from repeatedly suffering economic setbacks whenever disasters strike.

“What we want is to stop the spiral of disasters. And if we want to create more wealth, then we need to protect our wealth now. So it’s a good partnership with PCCI,” Miranda said.

Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the agency is shifting HANDA Pilipinas from a technology showcase into a more sustained program that responds directly to the needs of communities.

“So with the new HANDA Pilipinas, we want to be more intentional and more direct. Hindi lang tayo pupunta sa mga LGU para ipakita kung ano ang mayroon tayo. We want to better understand what communities actually need, and help identify where science and technology can be most meaningful,” Solidum said.

The event also featured disaster monitoring technologies, early warning systems, and digital data platforms developed by DOST agencies, including the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

These technologies provide information on weather conditions and geological hazards, helping local governments and communities make informed decisions before and during disasters.

As of October 8, representatives from Ormoc City, Hindang, and Jaro in Leyte, along with Mapanas and Pambujan in Northern Samar, had already visited the Technology Clinic for consultations.

The initiative forms part of DOST’s broader HANDA Pilipinas program, which promotes science and technology solutions focused on human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.

By bringing technical expertise closer to businesses and local communities, DOST hopes to help protect not only physical investments but also the jobs and livelihoods that depend on them.