As the City Government of Davao gears for the various activities lined up for the 86th Araw ng Dabaw celebration and other major events it will host in March, two evening simulation exercises were conducted Monday at the Roxas Night Market and Nova Plaza Food Park.
Task Force Davao (TFD) commander Col. Darren Comia, in a phone interview during Davao City Disaster Radio’s (DCDR’s) special coverage of the simulation exercise,
said responding personnel from the Safety and Security Cluster lived up to expectations.
“Maganda naman pagkaka-perform ng ating Safety and Security Cluster. May minor glitches pero overall maganda naman pagkaka-perform based on security tasks ng ating simulation exercises. Tinitingnan natin ang response ng cluster during night time (Our Safety and Security Cluster performed well. There are minor glitches but overall they performed well based on the security tasks of our simulation exercises. We look at the response of the cluster during night time),” Comia said.
He also said that the Roxas Night Market, along Roxas Avenue, and Nova Plaza Food Park in Lanang were chosen as locations for the simulation exercises since these are among the destinations that Dabawenyos usually frequent.
Comia thanked Dabawenyos for their understanding, support, and participation in the crucial exercises to help boost the city Safety and Security Cluster’s readiness to respond to untoward incidents.
“Pagpasensyahan nyo na po at nagpi-prepare tayo sa parating at maraming activities na kailangang paghandain ang Safety and Security Cluster (Please be patient and we are preparing for the upcoming and many activities that the Safety and Security Cluster needs to prepare for),” the TFD chief added.
City Information Office (CIO) officer-in-charge Harvey James Lanticse, who joined the responding agencies at the Nova Plaza Food Park, said the simulation exercises were part of the city’s culture of security Campaign.
Lanticse said, “Gi-simulate ra ang scenario kung adunay untoward incident nga mahitabo sa dakbayan to test the capabilities of the Security Cluster, at the same time sa atong LGU ug katawhan (Scenarios are simulated, if there is any untoward incident that happens in the city to test the capabilities of the Security Cluster and that of our LGU and the people).”
He said the simulation exercises were unannounced to make it more realistic similar to untoward incidents.
Over at the Roxas Night Market, the simulation exercise involved an `unattended motorcycle’, The area where it was found was immediately cordoned off while an assessment was being done by the responding security teams.
Lanticse also said that the `explosion’ incident was simulated at Nova Plaza Food Park as the Safety and Security Cluster activated security template mechanisms.
He observed heavy traffic in Lanang going toward Dusit Davao Hotel due to the activity but it eventually eased.
“Ikaunom na ni nga simex, dili first-time kay regular na ni ginapraktis aron sa pagpakusog sa atong culture of security. Gina-encourage ang participation and awareness sa atong mga igsoong Dabawenyo (This is the sixth simex, not the first time because it is practiced regularly to strengthen our Culture of Security. The participation and awareness of our fellow Dabawenyo are highly encouraged),” Lanticse added.
It can be recalled that Executive Order No. 23, Series of 2021, was issued encouraging Dabawenyos to adopt the Culture of Security as part of their way of life. CIO
