Whenever the names Tutuban and Divisoria are mentioned, it means shopping. Tutuban Center in Divisoria provides a bargain haven in the shopping world - everything people wants and needs under the sun. Going and on the Tutuban Center, experience the hassle of traffic, parking shortage, wrestling though crowds, overcrowding, and skimpy streets. And there are cheaters, pickpockets, not good people and criminals who are just waiting for an opportune time to strike.
Security concerns is one thing important to all. For the past years I go to Tutuban I think policemen are inadequate to keep a close watch on thousands of shoppers.
But these days, Tutuban personnel and police officers are doing activities to secured the place and provide assistance to people who may take advantage of the daily sale, availing of bargain prices being offered in the city’s prime shopping center,
To maintain the safety and security of shoppers, Tutuban Center recently conducted an bomb explosion and simulation exercise to test the capability of its emergency response team.
The simulated exercise was also meant to determine the strength and weaknesses of its Disaster Emergency Response Team (DERT) in responding to emergency situations and enhance its response procedures when dealing with delicate situations.
Tutuban’s Assistant Vice President-Safety and Compliance, Ted Mosquito, led the activity in close coordination and collaboration with PNP Police Station 2 to comply with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Council (NDRRMC) manual and its implementing rules. The station, located at Nolasco corner Morga Streets in Tondo, Manila, has jurisdiction over Tutuban, and is headed by P/Supt. Nick Pinion.
“We have conducted this activity on a yearly basis in our efforts to serve our customers better, and maintain a safe and secure shopping center. By doing so, we also train and equip with enough knowledge and awareness our DERT staff, our tenants, employees and contracted service providers on how to respond and react properly in this kind of emergency,” explains Mosquito.
The activity was conducted in two phases: preparation and actual. Preparation involved coordination, collaboration and meetings with concerned offices/units and careful planning in terms of personnel and logistics, and the actual, where there were lectures, briefings and rehearsals of Tutuban’s DERT and other participants to ensure success.
Bottom line, the participants were proven effective and efficient in performing their individual roles and assigned tasks when responding to this type of emergency.
There were a total of 168 registered participants, comprised mostly of Tutuban personnel and police officers from Precincts 6 and 7 both under Police Station 2. Other units that participated include the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), the Special Reaction Unit (SRU), Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Manila Traffic Bureau, plus other Manila Police Department (MPD) units headed by no less than P/Senior Superintendent Carlito Felicano.
Tutuban Center is located along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Visit the Facebook page Fb.com/TutubanCenter, follow at Twitter and Instagram accounts, @TutubanCenter.
