DENR creates own security task force

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 has created an eight-member regional task force on security and safety to protect or look after its more than 500 officials and employees at the regional office in Mandaue City.

Isabelo Montejo, DENR-7 regional executive director, said that they want to enforce and implement relevant precautionary measures to ensure their personnel are safe from any untoward situations that may endanger their lives as they perform their respective duties and responsibilities.

The task force, led by Michael Merilles, with members Amancio Dongcoy, Morley Baguio, Arnold Jugan, Percival Fiel, Rizalina Saberon, and Manuel Torregosa, was constituted through a regional special order number 2012-550 issued by Montejo.

The functions of the task force includes the establishment of a closed circuit television monitoring office and respond to any emergency in accordance with the disaster risk reduction plan, such as fire and alarm, earthquake evacuation, and other emergency situations.

Montejo said that each task force member will man the security office and equipment on the assigned or designated day of the week for eight hours and act as officer of the day.

As officer of the day, he or she will supervise the operation of the security guards on duty and the radiophone operation and to make proper coordination with other government agencies, namely, Office of the Civil Defense, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and other authorities.

Montejo added that they cannot compromise the safety of their personnel and by fully implementing these measures they would be able to guarantee them that they are important in the organization.

In a related development, the DENR-7 has installed nearly 20 CCTV cameras in all its field offices in four provinces in Central Visayas as mandated by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje.  –BRP (FREEMAN)