Robinson's Cebu Fire Incident - "Focal Points"

“(I want to make it a policy that) if you have money to invest on high-rise buildings, you should also have money to spend on a fire brigade,” Rama said.” An excerpt from a statement of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in a meeting he called with Cebu Chamber of Commerce officials. This after a fire gutted one signature boutique in Robinson's Mall Sunday afternoon 17 April 2011 and partly affected guests from Cebu Midtown Hotel.

The Mayor’s statement raised thoughts amongst observers from the Security Community and will definitely boost all efforts and intents of all Security Professionals in enlisting the support of higher superiors and corporate managers. Once again, the incident has become another case study which will help enlighten corporate decision makers and business owners. Another head-knock for them to invest fairly on security and safety and seriously consider in improving in this aspect regardless of the type of environs they are in.

Corporate figures and business owners as an immediate effect in the Robinson’s fire incident may have come to recognize the importance on the safety aspect of the building and this includes the welfare of its customers. Expectedly, it has also become a critical point of interest to Cebu Midtown Hotel management which is exposed to greater risk against potential litigation issues. It can be gleaned in news reports how hotel guests complained of being unaware of the actual fire in the building. One guest declared that there was no audible notification system which could have promptly helped them flee to safer grounds. Another claimed that not one from any hotel staff bothered to inform them of the on-going incident. One factor that intensifies this issue is a threat from one of the hotel guests in filing a legal suit against the hotel as a result of these lapses.

As the succeeding stories unfold to the public, we can expect a very surprising fascination how investigators and public figures will throw a very keen eye on the safety and security features of the building. Most of them will certainly become instant experts in this field over a few appearances and a little mouth-blabbering both in print and broadcast media. Business owners on the other hand who now foresees critical liability issues will interestingly focus and perhaps learn to appreciate the real essence of safety and a considerable level of security that they have to extend to its patrons and just the same to its employees.

Hopefully, this incident will aggressively remind hotel and lodging owners of this long standing in-keeper’s policy in providing “reasonable care” towards the security and safety of its guests and customers. It is under this context where investigators are expected to drive inquiry proceedings by solely threshing out at the firm's Crisis Management Program, Emergency Procedures, Incident Handling, Contingencies and in particular how the mall or the hotel administers its personnel evacuation plan.

Wherever this may lead on, all thoughts will certainly be heading towards those same old things in the shelf.

• A Security Department is a non-income generating unit therefore does not deserve any further investments.
• Security and Safety is just about unworthy spending! No R.O.I.
• It will not happen to us attitude!
• Denial. A wrongful frame of mind!
• Threat and Risk Ignorance!

“Nonetheless, there will be a continuing effort from the security industry to make people realize, that security and safety is far beyond a common sight of a security guard in uniform and a whistle.”

"Security Professionals battle to make corporate managers realize that we are now in the era towards the totality of a Security Person’s duty which is Loss Prevention, Threat Identification and Mitigation, Calculation of Risks".



"Most importantly, Security Professionals are just simply there to impart opinions on how to continue the business right in the middle of unwarranted emergencies". Along this line, let your security managers perform their roles, lend an ear and tightly listen. It is in this period wherein your security managers need your support at the fullest."

"Company decision makers should finally realize that the most focal role of the person in-charge is to help place the company into a more favorable footing in between unfavorable situations. It is a proud objective that requires relentless support from the top line management, and that of the corporate".

In this case with Robinsons and Cebu Midtown as a result, a recurring challenge now lies in recognizing among others, the cost of damage to property, recovery and restoration, man-hours, downtime, insurances, image re-building, indemnification and dealing with looming legal issues.

With a workable "cost and benefit" analysis, the figures that they are about to spend on these areas should be taken into account clearly, as against the cost if the company has decided to invest in security and safety systems in order to provide a desirable level of protection to its assets at the very on-set of the business.


Photo: Travelpod.com