Sponsorship Speech
Committee Report No. 327
Senate Bill No. 2423
PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES INDUSTRY ACT

Good afternoon, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues.

This afternoon, I rise to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2423, under Committee Report No. 327, or the Private Security Services Industry Act, repealing Republic Act No. 5487 or the Private Security Agency Law. This is in substitution of Senate Bill No. 2405 filed by this representation, and in consideration of House Bill No. 8783.

Sa gitna ng isang pandemya, marahil marami ang magtatanong, kailangan ba talaga ng panibagong batas para sa mga nasa Private Security Services Industry? Could we not, instead, simply work with the existing law and, perhaps, amend it? It is in anticipation and in light of such questions that I sponsor this measure today, Mr. President.

The pandemic damaged each and everyone of us. It was indiscriminate and did not choose any gender; any status in life; any profession. COVID-19 spared no one. During these trying times, security guards played a vital role and continued to perform tasks beyond their job descriptions and pay grades.

Security guards are frontliners and heroes in their own right. They are not only the first line of defense of workers and employees against possible lawless elements but have also evolved into a support system in our country's fight against COVID-19. Security guards prevent not only intrusion by unauthorized persons but also the spread of the deadly virus. They are our valiant gatekeepers. This legislative measure is about them.

On June 21, 2021, Republic Act 5487, as amended, otherwise known as The Private Security Agency Law, celebrated its 52nd anniversary of enactment, so to speak. 52 years, Mr. President. In all those years, we have witnessed countless changes to the private security industry, enough to convince us that the prevailing law is simply no longer responsive to the signs of the times. Here, then, we see the first reason for the passage of this measure: there is a need to update the law and to ensure that it accounts for the real situation of our private security professionals.

Nararapat lamang na ating bigyang pansin at halaga ang industriyang tumutulong sa ating mga kapulisan upang mapanatili ang kapayapaan ng ating mga komunidad. The fulfillment of their duties as well as the delivery of their services is premised on a piece of legislation that must accurately reflect their profession in its scope and limitations, its obligations and responsibilities. Thus, we find that updating the law on the Private Security Industry, through this measure, shall also help in improving the industry's capacity to help restore and maintain law and order in their respective communities.

This measure also provides for the professionalization and training of our private security professionals and security guards. First, by mandating that a License to Exercise Private Security Profession or LESP shall be granted only to those who have undergone the Pre-Licensing Training Program, we are ensuring that those who are in the profession possess the skills as required by the industry. Second, the measure provides for ladderized training and education for our security professionals. Through this, we are opening avenues for our security professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills, as well as giving them a chance to move up in their positions, profession-wise. Third, in order to strengthen the private security services industry, the measure provides for an explicit process of registration and licensing of private security agencies as well as stricter penalties for any violation of the said Act.

Who could forget the story of Archie Paray, who, in March 2020, held hostage several people at the Greenhills Shopping Center? This was a hostage crisis that lasted ten hours, Mr. President. And while we do not condone the criminality of his act, we cannot help but feel for him. Ang pinakamasakit ay iyong sinabi niya, noong ipinapaliwanag niya kung bakit niya nagawa ang nasabing krimen. Hindi raw maayos ang pagtrato at pangangalaga sa kanila, "dahil kami siguro gwardiya lang." Gwardiya lang. This is exactly the kind of orientation that this measure seeks to correct, Mr. President. A security guard, and all other security providers, is a professional, and must be treated as such.

We also ensure, in this measure, that the empowerment we give to our private security industry shall be enjoyed by Filipinos, for Filipinos. I believe, Mr. President, that the protection of our communities can be best done when the security officers understand the context and needs of the people they are protecting. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nakasaad dito sa ating panukalang batas na ang maaaring mabigyan ng License To Operate A Private Security Agency ay Pilipino lamang. Pilipino para sa Pilipino, Mr. President.

At this point, we now go back to the questions we laid out at the beginning of this sponsorship speech. Sa gitna ng isang pandemya, kailangan ba ng batas para sa ating Private Security Services Industry? Do we really need this new law?

Mr. President, if we believe that a prevailing law must reflect the signs of the times, if we believe that the maintenance of public order is of paramount importance, if we believe that the professionalization of our security officers and guards is long overdue, and if we believe that keeping the peace must be done by Filipinos for Filipinos, then our answer to the question must be a resounding yes. Let it be a yes, not only to the passage of this bill, but most importantly to the welfare of our people and our security professionals.

Gaya ng ating mga healthcare workers, nasa unahan ng laban ngayong pandemya ang ating mga security guards. Napapanahon na para magpasa ng isang batas na magpapabuti ng kanilang kalagayan. Thru this law, those who keep us safe and secured will have a future safe and secure.

Maraming salamat, Mr. President.