PNP allows longer license renewal for security agencies

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) approved new rules for private security and investigation agencies that will allow their owners to apply for a five-year license while security guards are given a three-year license, the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) announced today.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Diciano, PNP’s SOSIA head, said a memorandum circular prescribes the policy guidelines in implementing the conversion of the current two-year license-to-operate (LTO) renewal cycle to a five-year renewal cycle for private security and investigation agencies.

He said the new policy guidelines only apply to regular LTO holders, particularly in choosing the renewal options of three, four and five years. He also explained that temporary LTOs will still have a validity of two years.

The objective of giving a five-year license to private security operators is give them options that are suitable to their management style and financial capability to meet the regulatory requirements for the LTO renewal and operations of their security services, he said.

Under the SOSIA circular, security service providers with regular LTO should submit a letter of request in their renewal application indicating whether they are applying for a three-year, four-year or five-year license.