Firm offers cost-efficient security and alarm system

CEBU, Philippines - Feeling the urge to protect the Philippine community, a Cebu-based corporation was established to provide specialized security and life-safety systems in 1996.

 Security and Systems Monitoring, Inc. is a security and alarm monitoring company committed to ensure the well-being in residential, commercial and industrial establishments.

SSMi General Manager Leonardo Sylianco Jr. said that he and his managing partners found the need to keep the Cebuano community safe with their products and services which serve as “deterrent” to crime and fire incidents.

He cited that the company started small with manpower of only six persons and a modest capital of P1 million which was invested in the equipments used in their 24/7-operational central monitoring station.

For the past five years, he added that there is an average of 300 prevented cases of real-intrusion attempts, burglary and fire incidents of which 60 are reported annually.

He further described their security service more cost-efficient since the “system never sleeps”.

Once the motion detector triggers the alarm system, alarm signals will be transmitted to their Central Monitoring Station Receives within a minute time wherein operators shall alarm the dispatchers, authorities and keyholders to act on an immediate response in saving lives and value of properties.

Practicing such operation, the national company keeps an emergency list of clients and authorities which are all specific per account and per site.

Although there is a 20% growth reported every year, Sylianco noted that there is still a need to educate the Philippine community that has a culture which is not safety and security conscious unlike other First World countries.

“We always have the capability but then the demand and steady growth of 20%, we would like to see it grow more. We have to exert more in education since a lot of people think we are expensive,” he added.

For a basic security package which consists of motion detectors, door sensors, main control panel with keypad, siren, power supply and battery, one has to invest in a 36-month subscription with P950 payment per month based on the agreement of a “No Cash Out Plan”.

He further said that a responsible security company requires evaluation and assessment before the clients avail their products and services to determine where to install the system.

“We’re not just after the business. We are there to protect you. We would like to see a safer Philippine community through our products and services. We want people to know that these are actually affordable and practical,” he continued.

SSMi Managing Partner and Vice President for Operations Leonardo Angeles Jr., on the other hand, noted that one of the misapprehensions about security includes the belief of having a closed-circuit television camera as enough to ensure safety.

He acknowledged the role of CCTV camera in the security system which has functions for monitoring, recording and playback of incidents but said that it is not enough since if something happens, the damage has already been done.

He then presented the video-alarm verification in which the CCTV camera is part of the system.

Once the station receives the alarm, the company will notify the authorities and the client to avoid more damage. The CCTV camera would serve as a verification tool to check if there is actually a burglary taking place.

“Early detection, that’s the key. What we are doing here is prevention. There’s always the importance of CCTV. It’s actually a plus. If you have the system as a whole, it will also be prevention as a whole,” he said. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento

He also described the burglar intrusion and fire alarm system as an aid to human factor since it complements with the human security work.

He noted that the company serves as partners of police in preventing crimes since it is committed to contribute to the reduction of burglary and fire incidence in the community.

“We focus on the process. At the end of the day, we take a look at prospects – our “partners for life.”

With the advancement of technology, if you will be our client, we will protect you through the technology offered today and what’s coming ahead,” Angeles stated.

Currently serving more than 4000 monitored customers nationwide, SSMI’s varied clientele includes residential areas, commercial buildings, commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, manufacturing and service industries, and government agencies.  

Presently having 12 operators and 80 employees, the company has expanded its operations with its main office in Subangdaku, Mandaue City and other offices situated in Davao, Bohol and Manila.

SSMI is also co-managed by Pio Castillo Jr. as its President and Wilson Gocuan as the Vice President for Technology. (FREEMAN)