Security arrangement for San Pedro Square ‘Maximum Security Zone’ set

The City Government of Davao has detailed the security arrangements within the San Pedro Square Maximum Security Zone (MSZ).

With this, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte urged Dabawenyos and visitors to serve as the city’s “eyes and ears” against peace saboteurs as he called for support to create a culture of security in Davao City.

This developed as Davao City celebrates the 34the Kadayawan Festival the month of August.

The Vice Mayor, who is the acting mayor since last month, signed on Thursday a memorandum detailing the security arrangements within the MSZ.

“All Dabawenyos and guests who reside, work or have transactions within the San Pedro Square Maximum Security Zone are encouraged to serve as the “eyes and ears” of the peacekeeping authorities by reporting suspicious persons, unattended baggage and violations of ordinances relating to security,” VM Baste said.

The signing of the memorandum followed the declaration of San Pedro Square as maximum security zone by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in support to the resolution passed by the City Peace and Order Council.

The memorandum defined MSZ as an area where access is controlled through an entry point and limited to authorized, appropriately screened persons, and authorized and properly escorted persons, clients, visitors, and users of the public space where monitoring is done 24/7 by peacekeeping forces.

“The declaration of San Pedro Square as an MSZ should not be viewed as a restriction of an individual’s freedom but as an effort that provides Dabawenyos and visitors safety and security as they live, work, or conduct their business in the offices and establishments within San Pedro Square and its immediate vicinity,” the memo reads.

The San Pedro Square MSZ covers Pichon Street (Jaltan), formerly known as Magallanes Street, going to Bonifacio Monument Rotunda, C.M. Recto Street to corner Rizal Extension, Rizal Extension to corner C. Bangoy, C. Bangoy to corner San Pedro Street to corner City Hall Drive, and City Hall Drive to corner A. Pichon Street.

In the same memorandum, VM Baste pointed out the roles of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Task Force Davao, the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) including the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

VM Baste also directed city government department heads and chiefs of offices to ensure that all government workers adopt and practice the Culture by submitting themselves for inspection; serve as “eyes and ears” of the authorities by reporting suspicious persons, unattended baggage and violations of ordinances relating to security; always keep in mind the policies discouraging the use of backpacks and jackets and the prohibition on bringing non-transparent water containers; and, participating in and knowing the security measures being implemented and where to report safety, security and disaster incidents.

CENRO workers are to ensure that only transparent garbage bins are allowed inside the MSZ; to ensure that non-transparent garbage bins are allowed only at the sides/corners of spaces and covered by garbage bin protective wall; to prioritize the collection of garbage bins in the square; ensure the collection of garbage bins in the square; to ensure that the shrubs within the city parks, playgrounds and open spaces inside the MSZ are well trimmed at all times. See-through shrubs are highly encouraged and coordinate with the other members of the security cluster and City Mayor’s Office and Vice Mayor’s office.

The city police are to maintain a 24/7 Police Assistance Desk along San Pedro Street; install additional 24/7 Police Assistance Desk along Bolton Street corner Pichon Street; maintain a Police Mobile Patrol Car along San Pedro Street and Pichon Street; and, to coordinate with the other members of the security cluster and the office of the City Mayor/Vice Mayor.

The PSSCC should establish complete CCTV coverage 24/7, including views of the garbage bins within the MSZ; impose exemptions to “no backpack policy” and “no jacket policy” in consultation with the security cluster and event organizers during events; and, to coordinate with the other members of the security cluster and the office of the City Mayor/Vice Mayor.

For the TF Davao, forces are to individually approach and/or conduct anti-terrorism forum for all government employees in the City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod buildings and vendors at the parks and nearby areas, workers in restaurants, malls, churches and other business establishments inside the square; deploy K9 Units on Sundays and during big events (vendors’ carts, cartons, and boxes shall also be subjected to K9 inspection); deploy a Red Team to assess vulnerabilities and regularly submit reports; and, to coordinate with the other members of the security clusters and the office of the City Mayor/VM’s office. CIO