Hi-tech Command Center beef up Clark security For APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — A new command center with advanced technology shall beef up the security inside and within the perimeters of Clark Freeport during its hosting of the first Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit from January 26-February 7.

Constructed in November last year, the one floor building in front of the Public Safety Department (PSD) of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is equipped with 38 cameras, 9 TV wall monitors, 8 computers, radios, and telephones.

It also has a viewing area as well as three rooms that house various offices.

“CCTV cameras have been installed in (most) of Clark’s entrances and exits. The one in Sapang Bato Gate shall be placed within the week,” CDC Assistant Vice President for Security Services Ricardo Banayat disclosed.

Moreover, those areas not easily accessible to CCTV cameras will have PSD personnel on the ground to monitor any problem or incident during the SOM.

“The command center is not just for APEC. This is a long term plan of (CDC) President Arthur Tugade to address security and to make the Freeport a safer place for the locators, tourists, and for conferences like this,’’ Banayat stressed.

As part of the long-term plan for security, a video analytic surveillance shall be installed to enhance CDC’s existing video surveillance systems.

Video analytics can do real-time event detection, post-event analysis, and extraction of statistical data while saving manpower costs and increasing the effectiveness of the surveillance system operation.

APEC began as an informal dialogue group in 1989, but has since become the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Philippines, as its current chair, will be hosting throughout the year and in key economic and tourist sites including Metro Manila, Clark, Tagaytay, and Boracay a number of meetings of Senior Officials (Cabinet Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries) and Ministers (Cabinet Secretaries) prior to its conclusion in November with an Economic Leaders’ Meeting that shall be participated by Heads of State and Government.

Apart from the Philippines, other members of APEC include Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam. (PIA 3)