by Noel Baguio
Instead of renewing the appointment of contractual guards under its civil security services (CSS) unit, the provincial government of Davao del Norte is going to hire a private security agency to protect the province’s vital facilities and installations starting January next year as part of its professionalization and reorganization policy.
The province employs 17 permanent security guards and about 60 security personnel holding casual, honorarium and job order appointments, whose six-month contracts will expire on December 31, 2010.
However, Del Rosario assured that the outgoing security personnel who possess the necessary qualifications shall be given priority for absorption by the private security firm that will be hired by Capitol while the rest will be assigned to other contractual and job order designations other than security services, such as in special programs and projects of the province.
“We are not terminating them. We are just saying we are not going to renew their appointments,” Del Rosario said, assuring that security guards holding permanent positions shall remain since they enjoy security of tenure.
He said that in place of the outgoing guards, the province will hire a private security to assure security of some resources intended for vital programs and projects.
The shift in policy has also something to do with compliance with the annual salary increases of permanent personnel, as well as in keeping with the 45 percent ceiling on personnel services (PS) of government agencies.
“By doing so we can save money in order to accommodate salary adjustments, bonuses and other benefits of our regular employees,” he told members of the media, during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo last December 15 at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan in Tagum City.
In a separate interview, provincial administrator Rufo Peligro said that with the new setup, the province can save as much as 40 percent in its allocation for security.
Peligro said the province is presently allotting P12 million each year for the wages and benefits of security personnel at the Capitol. By hiring the services of a private security agency, he said the province will save up to P4 million annually.
The governor assured that the private security firm will chosen through the proper bidding process.
He dispelled rumors the provincial government is hiring a private security agency owned or co-owned by provincial administrator Rufo Peligro and other Capitol executives.
“I don’t believe so. Rest assured that won’t happen,” he said in an earlier interview.
Though he admits the move might cause some collateral damage, he assured that, overall, the decision “is really for the good of the province.”
He said the province is contemplating next the privatization of the janitorial services at the Capitol, saying the realignment is also in line with his administration’s thrust on public-private-partnership (PPP).
In a separate interview, Peligro stressed the important role of the professional private security firm given the government’s heightened vigilance against the threat of terrorism.
He also bared both the civil security services and the private blueguards will be put under the supervision of provincial general services officer Sammy Sanchez, being the custodian of the properties of the province.
Some security personnel who will be retained as security detail of the governor will be holding co-terminous positions, he added.
