DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) has begun requiring major event organizers to submit security and safety plans before they hold meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) here.
In a radio interview Friday, PSSO head Angel Sumagaysay said the move aims to ensure that essential protocols are followed considering that such events are crowd-drawers.
“Our system here is that before the special mayor’s permit is issued, we require the organizer to submit a security and safety plan. The details include the kind of event, when it will be held, the layout: the entrance and multiple exits as possible,” Sumagaysay said.
The organizers are required to present their plan to the Safety and Safety Assessment Team composed of the Davao City Police Office, Bureau of Fire, City Health Office, City Sports, and Development Division, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Transport and Traffic Management Office, and Task Force Davao.
Organizers may submit their plan to specific government agencies, depending on the type of activity or event.
“We are in close coordination with event organizers for MICE and the Business Bureau for the issuance of special permits related to events,’ he said.
Once the safety and security plan is approved, Sumagaysay said they will issue a certification that will be forwarded to the Business Bureau for the issuance of the permit.
It is during the assessment that authorities will check for marshals, medical personnel, and equipment to be provided by the organizer, he said.
“If it is not enough, we make augmentations (of security forces) because it is a form of livelihood, event organizing is part of our economic development,” he said.
Sumagaysay cited the deadly South Korea stampede as a lesson for organizers to establish enough security measures and emergency contingencies.
“If an event poses danger, the security cluster is allowed to stop it in coordination with the event organizer,” he said. (PNA)
