Central Luzon, Subic in full alert

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Security officers and personnel of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority are undergoing additional training in anti-terrorism and various aspects of emergency and security procedures to ensure the safety of participants and delegates to the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

Some 500 athletes from 10 to 11 Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines are competing in four events — archery, canaoe/kayak, sailing and triathlon — to be held at the Subic Bay Freeport.

As a SEA Games satellite venue, the Freeport is preparing to host more than a thousand VIPs, athletes, delegates and media men from different countries during the Games. Residents from nearby communities, especially students, are also expected to flock to the Freeport, starting from the welcome ceremonies on Nov. 25 to the last day on Dec. 5.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza assured the public that the agency had been taking the necessary steps to guarantee the safety of everyone throughout the Games.

"We have already mobilized our rescue, emergency and security personnel to conduct a series of studies, dry runs and consultations, not only within SBMA but with other government agencies as well to ensure that we meet the more demanding security requirements of an international sports competition like the SEA Games," Arreza said.

In the weekly SBMA SEA Games inter-department coordination meeting, Law Enforcement Department (LED) manager Col. Jaime Calunsag, reported that security officers and personnel are now undergoing various training courses related to security preparedness, in addition to anti-terror exercises.

"We have ongoing and scheduled trainings of LED security officers and have already initiated the procurement of necessary logistical requirements such as patrol vehicles, outboard, motors for our patrol crafts, handheld metal detectors, and other paraphernalia," Calunsag said.

The SBMA LED, which handled the security challenge of the fifth APEC Leaders summit held in the Freeport in 1996, has been doing enough extensive training in emergency vehicle operations, customer service security supervision and crowd control training, as well as anti-terrorism courses that include bomb threat handling and response procedures. The LED is also the nerve center of the SBMA 911 Emergency Response System which includes the SBMA Fire Department and Health and Safety Group.

Meanwhile, SBMA LED operations under Chief Major Angelito Barcelon said the department had already prepared the Security Implementation Plan which will be executed in coordination with the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) and the SEAG-PNP Sub-Task Group SBMA.

The plan covers traffic escort services, venue security and police visibility, crowd control, Freeport gate security, billeting area security, sanitation by K-9 units and harbor patrol security.

Recently, Central Luzon police authorities said that security preparations are in full swing in Luzon where six of 53 events will be held in separate venues including Subic and Angeles City.

Supt. Abelardo Villacorta, regional operation plans division chief, said the Task Force SEAG will heighten security measures in the two venues to ensure the safety of the athletes and visitors in the area.

Task Force Group SEAG led by Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) director, is working hard to ensure the safety of the participants during the holding of the international meet.