QUEZON CITY, Philippines—Awareness is the best way to be secured. This is the main lesson taught in the recent National Security & Safety Summit 2012 held last November 22-23 at the Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City which has the theme, “Awareness and Preparedness: Strategic Means to Cope with Challenges in Security and Safety.”
The summit was a joint effort of the four security associations namely the Asian Anti Counterfeit Association (AAA), Asian Professional Security Association (APSA) Philippines, International Aviation Security Association (IASA), and the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners (ISCPP). They realized that it is time that public and private security and safety practitioners unite and work more closely to rise above the challenges posed by the onset of global security and safety unrest.
It was supported by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Police Community Relations and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Philippines, and attended by representatives from different government agencies, security and safety professionals from the private sector, and members of civil society.
Various speakers talked about the recent developments in terms of Emergency Management, Crime Prevention, Aviation & Transport Security, Anti-Counterfeit and Intellectual Property Protection, and Campus Security.
But the most dynamic part of the event proved to be the break-up sessions. During this part, the delegates broke into several groups in accordance to the topics cited above. They shared their experiences and best practices as well as expressed thoughts on various concerns in their respective groups.
The event proved to be a learning experience for the participants upon hearing from one another the best ways to enhance the safety and security practices in their respective fields. But the bottom line proved to be that awareness is a very important aspect of safety and security. Awareness should involve the whole community in matters of their own security and safety. Awareness, according to them, would eventually pave the way for preparedness. The summit’s delegates acknowledged that security and safety are not just the concerns of agencies and personnel, but of everyone.
