Security needs rise
Companies in the Philippines have beefed up their security in the wake of last year's Manila hostage crisis, a security consultant says.
Gerardo Carual, president of the Manila-based voluntary Search and Rescue Unit Foundation, who was first on board the tour bus after the siege ended, said business had grown since the bloodbath. The foundation provides security training.
'There are 90 per cent more companies [approaching us] from all over the country,' he said.
Veteran security guard Conrado Segumalian, 47, said big Philippine companies were suddenly realising how little they knew about handling such a crisis and now wanted more advanced training for their guards.
The hiring of security guards at his company has risen 10 per cent.
'There are just too few policemen in the Philippines,' Segumalian said. He earns double a policeman's income - a security captain normally earns US$800 a month in Manila, while a police captain earns US$400.
