SUBIC BAY FREEPORT —The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services Inc. (SBFGTSI) conducted a simulation exercise (SimEx) at the latter’s premises inside this premier freeport on April 4.
SBMA Seaport Department SimEx director Diego P. Aviles said the activity dubbed “Responding to Active Shooter and Barricaded Scenario” was conducted to test procedures and contingency plans for security and safety response operations of both the SBMA and SBFGTSI.
“This exercise offers a unique opportunity for all participants to carry out response operations. Our objective is to test the security communication protocol in response to an active shooter and barricaded incident,” Aviles said.
He added that the SimEx also aims to assess coordination between security personnel and Emergency Response Units of SBFGTSI and the Law Enforcement Department (LED), and to evaluate the effectiveness and readiness of handling such emergencies following the Port Facility Security Plan.
Part of the exercise was conducted to test the response capabilities of the SBMA Seaport Department, and the LED, specifically the special weapons and tactics team, traffic branch, and K-9 Unit, as well as the Public Health and Safety Department in terms of emergency response.
Aviles, along with SBFGTSI manager Engr. Carlito Faustino and SBFGTSI port facility safety officer Gilbert Espiel, reiterated that this exercise offers a unique opportunity for all participants to carry out response operations and to test procedures and contingency plans on security, safety, and any emergency response operations.
“This exercise would not have been made possible without the collaboration between the SBFGTSI and SBMA,” Aviles said. Contributed photos
