INTEGRATED casino resorts are beefing up their security measures on the heels of the lone gunman attack on Resorts World Manila (RWM).
This developed as the Department of Tourism (DOT) said it would review the accreditation of RWM, as well as the security protocols of tourism establishments of similar nature—integrated resorts that house hotels, casinos, restaurants and malls in one complex or property.
At a recent news conference, Tourism Spokesman and Assistant Secretary Frederick M. Alegre said the agency has not yet decided if it would revoke the accreditation of RWM, pending the completion of the investigation report of the Philippine National Police (PNP). “We are awaiting recommendations and the final report from the PNP hierarchy, before we take concrete action [on RWM’s accreditation]. But definitely, the security protocol there has to be improved.”
He added that Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo also wants to upgrade the training of tourism frontliners to include security preparedness. “The DOT is involved in training personnel for tourism- enterprise areas. We have like 5 million involved in the tourism industry. With this recent incident, there must be a [training] module there that tackles security consciousness and security alertness, because they should also be involved in the duty to secure all tourists.”
In a statement sent to the BusinessMirror, Okada Manila, located in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Entertainment City in Parañaque City, said: “In the light of the incident [at Resorts World], we have intensified our rigorous security operations to ensure the safety of our guests and personnel.”
It added: “We have also sought cooperation of our employees and guests to be vigilant at all times, and take part in reporting any suspicious observations to our security team.”
Also located at the Entertainment City, the City of Dreams (COD), which houses three hotels and a number of casino areas, restaurants and activity areas across its integrated property, said it has “strict security measures around and in our property” to protect its guests, staff and management.
In a separate statement, COD assured the safety of its guests. “We have security presence at every entrance that is also supplemented with metal detectors, and/or X-ray machines and canine support. We conduct bag checks, car inspections and even pat down guests at the entrances. In addition, we have armed guards at the perimeter of the property, inside the garage and near or inside entryways.”
For its part, Solaire Resort and Casino said it has already upgraded its security measures since the bombing of the Davao market last September, and raised these further since the clashes between government and Islamic jihadist forces in Marawi City started in late May. On the sidelines of its stockholders meeting last Thursday, Bloomberry Resorts Corp. Chairman Enrique K. Razon Jr. told reporters: “We’re very conscientious of our security. We have a security force of close to 400 people. We have external security.
We have even water-side security. We have perimeter security in the entrances. We have security that watches over the security. We also have K-9 units, surveillance systems and surveillance control rooms.” Bloomberry is the parent firm of Solaire, likewise located in the Entertainment City.
He stressed that “[security] is an extremely sensitive [matter], because it’s a hospitality business. You have a hotel, food and beverage outlets…. We have to make sure [the guests] feel safe when they’re within the property”.
Police investigators said the attack on RWM was made by a disgruntled gambling addict, Jessie Carlos, who tried to steal casino chips from the establishment. He torched the casino floor, which resulted in 38 deaths, including that of the gunman. Of the fatalities, 25 were hotel guests who suffered from smoke asphyxiation, along with 13 casino staff.
Meanwhile, Alegre rejected notions that the agency was remiss in its accreditation of Resorts World. “A facility like that needs our accreditation. Alam ko dumaan sa amin. The security aspect is part of the requirements you have to present to show preparenedness to operate the facility.”
But he added: “I don’t think [we were remiss in our accreditation process]. It’s just that type of person that entered the facility calls for a review of security measures [because it’s the first time this kind of incident happened]….
Secretary Teo has ordered security protocols, especially of facilities similarly situated, of that size, to be reviewed. It’s not just a hotel, it’s a mall, it’s an eating area, casino-hotel in one.”
He said the DOT’s Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation sector, which is in charge of accrediting tourism establishments, “would have to discuss this [review of security protocols] with the hotels and casino operators in the hotels”. Part of the accreditation process, according to Alegre, is for the
establishment’s owner “to submit their capabilities to run it. The DOT also inspects the facility. We have a very stringent process in reviewing all applications for accreditation.”
With a report from VG Cabuag
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