Resilience of Micro Enterprises in Disaster-Prone Areas

Micro enterprises form the backbone of many local economies, providing essential goods and services while contributing to poverty reduction and regional development. This study examined the resilience of micro enterprises operating in disaster-prone areas of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Philippines. The study aimed to create an overlay map of micro enterprises near disaster-prone areas, assess their disaster preparedness, knowledge, and business resilience, determine the relationships between these factors, identify key predictors of business resilience, and develop an extension program to enhance resilience management for micro enterprises. A quantitative research approach was employed, involving data collection through surveys administered to micro enterprise owners. Geo-Information System (GIS) tool was utilized to generate the overlay map, pinpointing the proximity of micro enterprises to disaster-prone areas. The findings of the study revealed that micro enterprises are extremely prepared for disaster and are knowledgeable about disaster-related knowledge. In terms of business resilience, micro enterprises are highly resilient in communication and media, and resilient on institutional control, planning and preparedness, philosophy and integrity, and external support and linkages. The study further indicated that there is a significant relationship between disaster preparedness and business resilience, including disaster-related knowledge and business resilience. The results of the regression analysis showed that business resilience is strongly influenced by both disaster preparedness and disaster-related knowledge, with the latter having a stronger impact. The study concluded that while micro enterprises exhibit some level of resilience, there is a critical need for improved disaster risk reduction management practices and stronger support systems to ensure sustainable business operations in the face of recurrent natural disasters.