CCCI vows to support the banking sector

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) vowed to extend its support to the banking sector in Cebu in its bid to tighten security measures among member banks.

CCCI newly elected president Prudencio Gesta recently announced that CCCI and the Cebu Bankers Club (CBC) will soon join hands together in supporting the bankers’ move to ensure security in the banking institutions in Cebu, to avoid untoward incidents of robbery, among others.

Gesta, who is also the past president of the CBC said that there is a need for the Chamber, as the largest business organization in the province, to support the sub-sector organizations like CBC in their priority programs, along with other industry organizations.

The chamber will have its active involvement in the bankers’ security measures, while CBC has already an in place program in this regard, and that it support to re-inforce and improve the implementation.

Last year, CBC expanded its security tightening measures not only to member banks, but also include close networking tie-up with other industry sectors such as retail and business organizations.

Aside from partnering with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the different accredited security agencies in Cebu, CBC Security Committee chairman Prudencio Gesta.

Gesta said although the threat of bank robberies have declined significantly in Cebu, the banking sector is still strengthening its security measures, this include the involvement of other sectors in the business and government sectors.

“We have to improve our linkages. We can’t afford to be complacent, when it comes to security,” said Gesta, who is the vice president for Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC).

This time, CBC is formulating formal partnership with CCCI members, and the Federation of Rural Bankers Association, among other organizations, he said.

“In the last two to three years, there were serious attempts for bank robberies in Cebu, but it was not realized due to our strong bank wide security system,” Gesta said.

There is also a plan to include the lending companies and pawnshop operators in order to shun off robbery attempts, especially in the small companies which operates financial services, like lending firms, pawnshop, among others.

Operator of shopping malls is also invited by the CBC to be part of the across-industry security program measures, Gesta said.

 Gesta said there are a lot of organizations that should be included in the security measure program to be initiated by the banking sector, which also include the cooperatives.

 In the entire country, Gesta claimed that the Cebu banking sector has the most unique security program and is currently being professionalized through the creation of the security committee that involves inter-industry efforts.

This time, Gesta said banking institutions operating in Cebu in coordination with their Manila headquarter offices, are encouraged to hire security personnel that are from accredited Security Agencies.

At present, CBC has 22 accredited security agencies, of which security personnel are asked to undertake further training, Gesta concluded.  (FREEMAN)