Bacolod City has deployed a team of private security personnel to guard the public plaza, which is undergoing an upgrade funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Mayor Greg Gasataya said after a two-day briefing, the security guards already reported for duty on Wednesday, July 3.
“Based on the contract, there are six of them. Number one, as blue guards, they are allowed to use firearms. Number two, their sense of authority is different from the city’s Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) personnel. Number three, there would be people accountable. That’s why we decided to put blue guards in the plaza,” he added.
Gasataya said those assigned by the POSO and General Services Office for routine assignment at the plaza, who are mostly job order personnel, will continue to report for duty.
The city government has contracted the services of blue guards from the Ilobac Security Agency Inc.
Each of the six security guards is assigned to a 12-hour shift, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and vice versa, seven days a week.
Meanwhile, Gasataya said he has sought a meeting with officials of the TIEZA, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, for updates on the ongoing upgrade, renovation, and beautification of the public plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.
“For the plaza, they only need a little more time to reconcile the electrical requirements,” he added.
TIEZA has allotted PHP300 million for the improvement of the city’s public facilities, including PHP80 million for upgrading works at the plaza and PHP220 million for the renovation of the Government Center grounds.
Gasataya, however, said he learned only last week that the power supply requirements for the Government Center project have not been included in the contract.
“For them, there’s no sense of urgency. I asked for a dialogue with them (referring to TIEZA). We are facing a big problem, they have to come here and find a solution,” he added. *PNA
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya (right) meets with the assigned private security guards at the public plaza during their deployment on Wednesday *BCCO photo
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