The Davao City security and safety cluster will be conducting a simulation exercise (simex) next week, in a school on F. Torres Street here.
During the simulation, Davao City’s “Culture of Security” campaign will be tested, while all units in the security and safety cluster will get to exercise their response protocols in an unprecedented terrorist attack.
The simex will be participated in by the Task Force-Davao, Davao City Police Office, Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), Philippine Navy, Philippine Coastguard, Maritime Police, Tactical Operations Group 11 of the Philippine Air Force, City Transport and Traffic Management Office, 911, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency XI, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Highway Patrol, Philippine National Police-Crime Laboratory, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Health Office, City Information Office and other supporting agencies.
PSSCC head PCol. Angel Sumagaysay, during the Madayaw Davao program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio, said that since the simulation will be held in a public school, the Department of Education will be playing an active role.
“It is very important ‘yong participation of the establishment kung asa nato ipahigayon ang simulation exercise. Hindi lang ang school but pati ‘yong mga establishments within that area. Kasi nga, you cannot predict asa mahitabo ang mga insidente (The participation of the establishment where the simulation exercise will be conducted is very important. Not only the school but also the establishments within that area. You just cannot predict how incidents will turn out),” Sumagaysay said.
Sumagaysay added that unlike the previous simulations, this year’s simex will stage a more complex security scenario which will include grenade-throwing, active shooting and hostage-taking incidents.
Staging a school shooting, Sumagaysay said, is prudent and timely as this particular security threat had been so rampant, especially in Western countries. He said the city’s security cluster already has protocols in place for all possible security threats, however, the simex will provide the means by which all units can test their “operational readiness” and strengthen their “inter-operability response” in complex scenarios.
The citizens’ response to the simulation will also be taken into account in evaluating its success, the PSSCC head added.
He said the people’s compliance to spontaneous advisories and directions from the security and safety cluster in extreme situations will also be tested and taken into account.
Sumagaysay urged all Dabawenyos to cooperate in the simex and even asked for their patience for any discomfort that is likely to be experienced during the exercise as road and border closures as well as traffic rerouting are expected during the exerci
