The Philippine National Police, in collaboration with the Mall Security Managers Association of the Philippines (MSMAP), has conducted the first ever Mall Security Summit at Camp Crame, Quezon City last Tuesday (May 8).
Mall security managers, private security providers and PNP officers attended the one-day affair.
During the opening ceremony, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo emphasized the need for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to ensure the safety of the public inside shopping malls.
He likewise stressed the role of Local Government Units in the formulation of regulations requiring mall establishments to install security gadgets such as closed circuit television (CCTV).
A series of crime incidents took place in different shopping malls in Metro Manila, where both shoppers and security guards were the victims.
Sensing the need to organize the mall security managers and security providers, the PNP spearheaded the summit. “A strong coordination between the PNP and MSMAP will surely enhance the security measures against crimes perpetrated inside malls. The safety of the public is our primary concern,” Robredo said.
Police Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy III, Director of the Supervising Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA), the PNP office that regulates and oversees the private security industry, said that his office will closely coordinate with MSMAP so that appropriate measures would be undertaken in terms of security guards training, operational procedures and installation of security equipment in malls.
The culminating part of the summit was highlighted by an induction ceremony of the new set of officers of MSMAP headed by Col. (Ret.) Valentine Hizon of Ayala Malls.
