In the wake of recent earthquakes and as communities prepare for the height of the rainy and typhoon season, disaster readiness remains a critical priority. For years, Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest microfinancial institution in the Philippines, has embedded resilience into its operations through programs that protect employees, strengthen preparedness, and mobilize volunteer support for communities affected by disasters.
At the core of this commitment is the belief that resilience starts with people. Across its nationwide network, Cebuana Lhuillier invests in training, safety measures, and volunteer programs that equip employees to respond effectively to emergencies and extend assistance to the communities they serve.
“Our responsibility goes beyond providing financial services,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. “Before we can help communities recover, we must ensure that our own people are prepared, protected, and equipped to respond. Through continuous training and volunteer initiatives, we empower our employees to become active partners in building more resilient communities.”
The company’s preparedness efforts combine employee readiness with community resilience. Cebuana Lhuillier conducts regular fire and earthquake drills, designates emergency marshals across offices and branches, and provides preparedness resources such as hard hats, emergency go bags, and other safety equipment. Complementing these measures are rescue and air boats that strengthen the company’s ability to support emergency response and relief operations, particularly in flood-affected and hard-to-reach communities.
Supporting these efforts is the Barangay Cebuana Resilience Exchange (BCRX), a multi-stakeholder disaster resilience platform that brings together Cebuana Lhuillier employees, local government units, community leaders, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions that strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Insights from these engagements help reinforce resilience awareness across the organization and the communities it serves.
Beyond preparedness, Cebuana Lhuillier enables employees to take an active role in disaster response through its Tulong sa Pagbangon initiative, which mobilizes RAPIDO employee volunteers to provide relief assistance, logistical support, and recovery aid in affected areas. Working alongside local government units and partner organizations, these volunteers help communities rebuild and recover after disasters.
This commitment was recently demonstrated following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that affected parts of Mindanao. Through Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) and in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Cebuana Lhuillier delivered food packs and clean drinking water to hundreds of families in Barangay Kinam, Malapatan, a remote community affected by the disaster.
“Disaster resilience is built through continuous learning, preparedness, and shared responsibility,” said Jo-Ann Tacorda, Executive Director of Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc., and Cebuana Lhuillier First Vice President and Group Head for Corporate Services. “When our people are equipped to act and given opportunities to serve, we are able to create a greater impact for the communities that need support the most.”
As the country observes National Disaster Resilience Month, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to foster a culture of preparedness, volunteerism, and collective action—ensuring that its people are ready to respond when disaster strikes and helping communities recover and move forward.
