The Philippines’ IT-BPO (information technology-business process outsourcing) industry organization announced recently that it will review the response to calamities and natural disasters to strengthen industry efforts to safeguard the well being of employees as well as lessen service disruption.

“We’ll continue to work closely with the government to ensure employee safety, enhance disaster preparedness, and mitigate service disruption,” Business Processing Association of the Philippines president and chief executive Benedict Hernandez said in an interview with Manila Standard Today.

The recent monsoon rains affected a considerable part of Luzon, which is the location of hundreds of IT-BPO firms in the Philippines. BPAP said that their initial survey in the aftermath of the monsoon rains showed that a number of IT-BPO businesses have reportedly given monetary assistance and relief to affected employees through advances of the 13th month pay, outright grants, and interest-free loans. 

Some have also provided – as part of implementing business continuity plans – safe transportation for their employees. 

There are also, according to BPAP, some companies that arranged accommodation for employees who could not go home yet and provided food or food allowance and assistance from support teams.