Both government and private motor vehicles and motorcycles that enter the provincial government center in Mankilam, Tagum City, must henceforth secure a motor vehicle gate pass sticker or gate pass card in order to have access to the capitol compound.
In line with the security reforms being implemented at the capitol, Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario issued memorandum circular No. 003 providing for the implementation of the new security policies and procedures within the government center.
The memorandum, effective January 3, 2011, installed new policies on entering and exiting the main gate and other access gates of the center, with the CISA security agency now strictly maintaining security of the area. All vehicles will be checked upon entering the main gate of the government center.
All government officials and employees must wear their official IDs upon entering the area so as not to be subjected to thorough security checks.
However, clients and visitors are required to wear their visitors’ ID, aside from being required to undergo frisking.
All friendly forces, like the military and the police, are further required to deposit their firearms with the guards on duty for safekeeping, before being allowed to enter the capitol building.
A motor vehicle gate pass sticker, earlier secured from the provincial general services office (PGSO), allows both a government and a private vehicle or motorcycle to pass through the designated lane free from security check-up, provided the car window must be open and/or rolled down upon entering the gate.
While public and private vehicles which do not have the appropriate gate pass sticker must undergo security check at the designated lane.
A car pass will be provided upon presentation of acceptable identification card of the driver. Passenger cars and tricycles are allowed to enter the area only after thorough check-up.
The car pass shall be returned to the guards on duty, who will in turn give back the corresponding ID of the driver.
However, the center will still be available to early morning joggers and walkers from 5:00 to 7:00 am during weekdays and up to 8:00 am on weekends, provided they present proper IDs for record purposes.
Provincial administrator Rufo Peligro explained that the new system intends to improve and professionalize security and safety within the capitol compound.
He asked capitol officials and employees, as well as the general public, to bear with the changes in accessing the government center, as this is for their own benefit.
“The minor inconvenience is only a very small price to pay for the safety of all our provincial officials, employees and visitors at the capitol,” he said. “We cannot afford to compromise the security of everyone.”
He also dismissed political innuendos on implementing the measures.
Meanwhile, provincial general services officer Sammy Sanchez assured that no railroading occurred in the bidding out of the capitol’s security services to private firms.
He said the whole process was done above board and consistent with R.A. 9184, otherwise known as the new procurement law of 2003.
He added that a bid notice was posted on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and was even printed in a national newspaper.
According to him, eight security agencies bought the necessary bidding documents. Only six firms drafted their bid proposals, four of which were disqualified for failure to secure the necessary technical requirements.
However, of the two firms left for post qualification, only the CISA security agency was able to provide all the seven necessary requirements, making it through the lowest calculated and responsive bid protocol.
