Clark firm strengthens security in freeport (Sun.Star, Tuesday, November 13, 2007)

Clark firm strengthens security in freeport

By Ian Ocampo Flora

CLARK FREEPORT -- Recognizing the need to streamline its security preparedness, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Levy Laus has announced the setting up of measures that would further enhance the state-owned firm’s conducive atmosphere for business and tourism.

The CDC will implement stricter security measures and traffic enforcement in the coming days following the completion of the anti-terrorism training of the Special Reaction Unit (SRU) and the turnover of about P15 million worth of equipment to the Pubic Safety Department of the state-owned firm on Monday.

The stricter security measures and enhanced traffic management are some of the vital programs that CDC has started implementing as the freeport continues to bustle with increasing economic and tourism activities.

Laus said new security measures and traffic management program inside the freeport is imperative because of the continued development of commercial, industrial, tourism and aviation activities in Clark, including the growing number of flights at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

With these developments, Laus said the CDC needs to beef-up traffic and security measures to protect lives and properties and instill traffic discipline among the motorists entering the freeport zone.

He said those who will fail to follow rules and regulations on the streets and major thoroughfares of Clark would be immediately apprehended, including smoke belching vehicles.

The CDC has purchased new equipment, including the 14 brand new motorbikes and a fire truck, which were turned over to Senior Superintendent Nicanor Targa, public safety manager of the CDC. The brand-new motorbikes will be deployed to the entire freeport zone to monitor traffic violators and smoke belchers.

Targa also informed Laus during the turnover and flag-raising ceremonies Monday that the SRU personnel were given excellent ratings after undergoing strict anti-terrorism training at the Regional Mobile Group in Camp Olivas.

Laus said the improvement of the security measures and equipment is among the concerns of investors and the would-be investors in Clark.

"They would like to feel safe and secured while inside Clark, which, through these improvements we have made and implemented, we can assure them that the freeport has a world-class standard in terms of security measures and during emergency cases," he added.