JAN.

2, 2013

NR # 2972

Congress approves bill strengthening private security industry

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill which seeks to strengthen the private security industry in the country. House Bill 6737 aims to professionalize the private security industry by strengthening the requirements for training and professional certification of security practitioners. It also seeks to improve the efficiency of the security industry by making more efficient bureaucratic processes with respect to licensing, operation and regulation of private security agencies. Another objective of the measure is to make the Private Security Agency Act more responsive to the needs of private security agencies as well as that of the society. Under the bill, private security industry refers to those engaged in the legitimate business of providing private security and detective, security training, K9 security and VIP protection services; and those in the management and administration of company guard forces. The measure requires certain qualifications from those who wish to apply for a license to practice the private security profession and engage in the occupation, calling or employment after complying with academic, scholastic, skills and training requirements. These basic requirements include being a Filipino citizen; at least 18 years of age; must have taken a private security course or seminar and must have adequate training; of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any crime or offense involving moral turpitude; and has passed the neuro-psychiatric test and drug test administered by any government-accredited neuro-psychiatric testing center, among others. The bill provides for the qualifications of a private security guard, security consultant, private detective and protection agent and safeguards against private armies. The bill also designates the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in consultation with various stakeholders, to determine the minimum capital requirement and minimum bank deposit required to operate private security agencies. The proposal also requires that a Philippine private security agency shall be 100 percent Filipinoowned. The authors of the bill are Reps. Emmeline Y. Aglipay (Party-list, Diwa), Angelo Palmones (Party-list, Agham), Catalina C. Bagasina (Party-list, ALE ), Pablo John F. Garcia (3rd District, Cebu), Rodolfo W. Antonino (4th District, Nueva Ecija), Romeo M. Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), Juan Miguel Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo (Party-list, AGP), Leopoldo N. Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan), Roilo Golez (2nd District, Paranaque City), Loreto Leo S. Ocampos (2nd District, Misamis Occidental), Nasser C. Pangandaman (Party-list, AA Kasosyo), Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), Jesus N. Sacdalan (1st District, North Cotabato), and Susan Yap (2nd District, Tarlac). (30)
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