Safety Institute for amusement parks and attractions industry draws in a huge turnout.

The Philippine Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (PhilAPPA) and the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), in cooperation with Enchanted Kingdom, convened the PhilAAPA Safety Institute for Amusement Parks and Attractions on April 11, 2013 at the Enchanting Events Place (EEP) of Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. This year’s Safety Institute was an offshoot of the resounding success of the 2012 IAAPA Safety Institute last March 2012. Over 800 participants from members of the public and private sectors and key players in the amusement parks and attractions industry attended the 2013 Safety Institute.

The PhilAAPA Safety Institute is one of the major advocacy thrusts of IAAPA and PhilAAPA to create and heighten the awareness for safety and the establishment of standards in the amusement and attractions industry in the country. Safety and standards are primary and serious business components of the industry that should be inculcated into a “culture.”

Mario O. Mamon, Chairman and President of Enchanted Kingdom and current 1st Vice Chairman of IAAPA, said “the PhilAAPA Safety Institute focuses on strengthening safety and eventually establishing standards for the rapidly growing local amusement and attractions industry. We envision being the leading private sector and industry association tasked with working hand in hand with government, specifically the Legislative Branch and the DILG, in providing a vehicle for the development of local industry safety standards resulting in an upgraded amusement industry and ultimately in the promotion of our local and foreign tourism industry.”

The PhilAAPA Safety Institute gathered an impressive roster of noted experts from the global and regional amusement parks and attractions industry. Andrew Lee, IAAPA Vice President for Asia-Pacific kicked off the conference with a talk on IAAPA Asia Pacific Directions.  Armeen Gomez, Vice-President and Chief for Safety & Security of Resorts World Manila, discussed Safety in Philippine Tourism and how various social, political and economic values affect tourism in the country. Eric Santos of TUVRheinland Philippines gave an insight on Industry Standards: ASTM and TUV. He also emphasized on how the legitimacy of safety standards contribute to the success and growth of the local amusement parks and attractions industry.

Matthias Li, Deputy Chief Executive of Ocean Park Corporation Hong Kong, and concurrent Chairman of the IAAPA Asian Safety Subcommittee, gave a presentation on Enterprise Risk Management. He noted that by identifying and proactively addressing risks and opportunities, business enterprises in the amusement park and attractions industry are able to protect and create value for their stakeholders, including owners, employees, customers, regulators, and society overall.

Daniel Cuffe, Director for Safety and Compliance of Resorts World Sentosa Attractions (Universal Studios Singapore), spoke on Safety Compliance and the importance of training, awareness, and compliance on the proper protocol that are contributing factors to the success of the industry. Frankie Hau, Senior Manager for Environmental, Health and Safety of Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, discussed Safety Inspections and its pivotal role in the global amusement and attractions industry.

Richard A. Carroll, Senior Vice President and COO of Jeff Ellis  & Associate, spoke on Water Park Safety and Operations and how environmental, physical, and psychological factors of each personnel affect the safety standards and operations of water parks and other water-based facilities.

The highlight of the PhilAAPA Safety Institute was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Safety Standards for the Amusement Parks and Attractions Industry between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), the Fire National Training Institute (FNTI), the Philippine Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (PhilAAPA) and Enchanted Kingdom, Inc. The MOA will lay the foundation and groundwork for the establishment of a set of national standards for safety in the local amusement parks and attractions industry.

PHILAAPA SAFTEY INSTITUTE HELD AT ENCHANTED KINGDOM.

Prominent key industry leaders invited to speak before the PhilAAPA Safety Institute for Amusement Parks and Attractions.

From left to right: PhilAAPA Executive Director Ricky Tamparong; Atty. Ruben R. Platon, Philippine Public Safety College President; Richard A. Carroll, Senior Vice President and COO of Jeff Ellis  & Associates; Daniel Cuffe, Resorts World Sentosa Attractions (Universal Studios Singapore) Director for Safety and Compliance; Matthias Li, Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong Deputy Chief Executive; Mario O. Mamon, Enchanted Kingdom Chairman and President and current IAAPA 1st Vice Chairman, Dr. Cynthia Romero Mamon, Enchanted Kingdom Chief Operating Officer; Andrew Lee, IAAPA Asia-Pacific Vice President; and Frankie Hau, Senior Manager for Environmental, Health and Safety of Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong.