UPLB hires second security agency for open, remote areas

UPLB has a new security agency, which will assume office on 22 January 2019, and will be assigned to UPLB’s external zone. This zone includes open areas, such as entry and exit points, streets, academic and research compounds, and parking spaces, as well as remote UPLB territories, such as the Laguna-Quezon Land Grant (LQLG) headquartered in Siniloan, Laguna and Pook ni Mariang Makiling.

The UPLB Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) awarded the World Cup Security Services, Inc. (WCSSI) with the contract to provide security services to UPLB, which was signed on 9 January 2019 by Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Vice Chancellor Serlie Barroga-Jamias, Atty. Romulo R. Mahor (President, WCSSI), and Mr. Rudy L. Cariaga (Vice President, WCSSI), and witnessed by Assistant to the Vice Chancellor Roberto G. Visco.

The agency will support the three other security forces of UPLB, namely the University Police Force (UPF), Community Support Brigade (CSB), and the first security agency hired on 1 August 2018, which was assigned to the various buildings in the campus or the ‘internal zone’. These forces are overseen by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) through the UPF.

The hiring of the second security agency underwent a rigorous process like that of the first security agency. It was coordinated by a Technical Working Group (TWG) created by Chancellor Sanchez.

The TWG was composed of AVC Visco (chair), Dr. Elpidio M. Agbisit Jr. (Dean, College of Agriculture and Food Science), SOIV Ricardo T. Silab (Chief, UPF), SOII Rizal T. Huelgas (Chief of Administration, UPF), Atty. Cherry Lou R. Nuñez (Faculty, College of Economics and Management), and Ms. Jocelyn G. Cordez (Administrative Officer V, OVCCA).           

Various activities were done to prepare the new agency before it assumes office.

On 13 November 2018, a forum was held among end-users, who were building administrators of various colleges and units, where they expressed their safety and security concerns to OVCCA officials and the agency.

On 10 January 2019, VC Jamias welcomed the officials and the personnel of the agency to UPLB.

She pointed out that ensuing safety and security in UPLB could be quite a challenge as the campus is very porous. As such, she was grateful that the University has finally acquired a second security agency that will rove the roads and open areas in the campus.

She also explained that acquiring two security agencies was a strategic measure by the UPLB administration to ensure efficiency and effectivity, complementation of strengths, as well as continuing service in case one security provider defaults. In previous years, UPLB had only one security agency.

The officials of the agency also formally introduced themselves and presented the personnel they will be deploying, as well as firearms, equipment, and vehicles they will be providing for inspection by UPF officers.

The personnel of the agency also underwent a seminar on gender sensitivity and the UP Anti-Sexual Harassment (ASH) Code, facilitated by Dr. Emilia A. Lastica-Ternura, coordinator of the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment of the Office of the Chancellor (OASH-OC). This is a major requirement of UPLB before the personnel of the agency are deployed in campus.

The contract of UPLB’s security agencies are for a period of three years, which is subject to renewal every year, based on the evaluation of the end-users of their performance (Written by: Miguel Victor T. Durian).

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