Cebu bankers strengthen security measures

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Bankers Club (CBC) is expanding its security tightening measures not only to member banks, but also those with close networking tie up with other industry sectors such as retail and business organizations.

This aside from partnering with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the different accredited security agencies in Cebu, said CBC Security Committee chairman Prudencio Gesta.

According to Gesta, although the threat of bank robberies have declined significantly in Cebu, the banking sector is still strengthening its security measures, this include the involvement of other sectors in the business and government sectors.

“We have to improve our linkages. We can’t afford to be complacent, when it comes to security,” said Gesta, who is the vice president of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC).

This time, CBC is formulating a formal partnership with CCCI members and the Federation of Rural Bankers Association, among other organizations, he said.

“In the last two to three years, there were serious attempts of bank robberies in Cebu, but it was not realized due to our strong bank wide security system,” Gesta said.

There is also a plan to include the lending companies and pawnshop operators in order to shun off robbery attempts, especially in small companies that offer financial services, like lending firms, pawnshop, among others.

Operators of shopping malls are also invited by the CBC to be part of the across-industry security program measures, Gesta said.

Gesta said there are a lot of organizations that should be included in the security measure program to be initiated by the banking sector, which also include the cooperatives.

In the entire country, Gesta claimed that the Cebu banking sector has the most unique security program and is currently being professionalized through the creation of the security committee that involves inter-industry efforts.

This time, Gesta said banking institutions operating in Cebu in coordination with their Manila headquarter office, are encouraged to hire security personnel that are from accredited Security Agencies.

CBC is also providing support education program for partner Security agencies in coordination with PNP, to give professional updates and tactics to security personnel, Gesta said.

“We are trying to mandate security personnel to undertake further trainings, to accredited security schools that are approved with the PNP SUSIA program,” Gesta said.

In this way, it is not just the banking industry that will be assured of good security measures against robberies and untoward incidents but other business establishments also across industries.

At present, CBC has 22 accredited security agencies, of which security personnel are asked to undertake further training, Gesta concluded. (FREEMAN)