Domingo Partido, a former Military attache, founded Ultimate Shield Security Agency, Incorporated in the late 1980’s. Inspired by his military experience, he established USASi – Ultimate Security and Allied Services, Inc. in 1989. The agency started operating during the same year.
Ultimate Shield has expanded its presence beyond the Metro Manila Head Office. It now has branches in two other regions – one in La Union, serving the northern Luzon area, and another in Surigao Del Norte, covering the lower region of the country. With over 300 security guards stationed in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, Ultimate Shield Security offers services to institutions, organizations, companies, and establishments in and around the Greater Manila Area and provincial areas. These clients seek quality security services rooted in USSAi’s strong values and morals.
USSAi has partnered with various companies, including AMOSUP, Seamen’s Hospital, Max’s Fried Chicken branches, Via Mare Tomas Morato, GMA Network, Peninsula de Punta Fuego, and Araneta Coliseum. The main objective of USSAi is to offer and sustain an outstanding and professional security service based on its fundamental corporate policies and guidelines. USSAi aims to prioritize the client’s welfare by delivering the highest quality security service and adhering to both the agency’s and the client’s rules and regulations.
USSAi is committed to delivering excellent service and recognizes the importance of professional development for both security personnel and office staff. Regular trainings are provided to ensure their skills and knowledge are on par, if not superior, to those in other agencies and companies. Honesty and integrity are core values for USSAi in all internal and external interactions. As a medium-sized corporation, USSAi follows the following organizational structure:
The staff’s active organization structure from 2011 to 2012 is as follows: Each individual within the office staff has their own rank and position. However, due to the small size of the staff (only eight people), tasks and responsibilities can be flexible. This allows for easy delegation of work, whether it involves fieldwork or administrative tasks. Consequently, all employees must be aware of each other’s assignments and stay informed about the progress of each task. Such coordination facilitates smooth transitions and seamless workflow continuity.
The office staff members have informal interrelationships due to the small size of the staff and limited office space, which is unlike other companies. This fosters open communication and creates a friendly atmosphere within our organization.
On the other hand, the structure among the security personnel differs significantly. In this industry, a militaristic culture is followed, resulting in a formal and strict structure among the guards. The guards are hierarchically ranked, starting with the Security Officer/Supervisor/Manager who oversees all guards stationed at different locations.
In the field, the Detachment Commander (DC) and Assistant Detachment Commander (ADC) act as representatives for the Company Officers. They are supervised by the Security Officer/Supervisor/Manager and their main duty is to ensure the smooth functioning of their detachment while following instructions from the Head Office. Additionally, the Shift – in – Charge, who works under the DC and ADC, oversees all order implementation during each shift. It is crucial to strictly abide by security industry regulations and rules because not doing so can result in serious consequences.
While there is a formal aspect to adhering to rules and regulations, the agency also maintains an informal line of communication between security personnel and management. This can either facilitate or impede both parties. The organizational structure allows staff members to easily communicate with management, without any clear hierarchy among staff or between staff and management, as indicated in the aforementioned organizational structure.
The Executive Vice President in USSAi is responsible for major decisions and serves as one of the three main signatories for bank transactions and external formal documents. Despite being employed in a separate company, they are involved in the day-to-day activities and operations of the family business, particularly those related to clients, both current and prospective.
The Corporate Secretary in USSAi had multiple roles within the company. In addition to carrying out and implementing board decisions and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, she also played a key role in sales and marketing. This included contacting potential clients and finalizing deals and transactions. Moreover, the Corporate Secretary was actively involved in daily operations with existing clients. This included attending meetings, assisting detachment commanders and security officers with recruitment and scheduling, as well as handling emergencies.
The Corporate Secretary was responsible for various tasks including Administrative requirements, Operations, Sales and Marketing, and Finance. Specifically, she controlled and managed the agency’s finances. This involved allocating funds for different payables such as government dues (SSS, Pag – Ibig and Philhealth) and 13th month pay. Additionally, she was in charge of signing checks for payables and the payroll. The Corporate Secretary played a crucial role within the company, ensuring compliance with processes, reviewing reports, and collaborating with the accountant on USSAi’s financial statements.
All three assistants to the Corporate Secretary have the responsibility of fulfilling tasks required by the Corporate Secretary. This includes handling payroll, reports, necessary documents, and managing the allocation of funds. They also handle transactions between banks on behalf of the Corporate Secretary and take minutes during meetings. In addition, these assistants attend meetings on behalf of the Corporate Secretary and address personal needs for both the secretary and her family.
The duties of the Senior Security Supervisor include conducting inspections of various locations and areas where guards are stationed, including both Metro Manila and provincial areas/posts. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that guards are adhering to client requirements, following rules and policies, and maintaining updated equipment. Additionally, the Senior Security Supervisor is responsible for updating the list of guards and equipment, such as radios, firearms, and transportation, which is submitted to government agencies and security governing bodies like SOSIA and PADPAO. Finally, the Senior Security Supervisor serves as a mediator between the agency and security guards who file labor complaints with the NLRC and DOLE.
He is responsible for numerous security-related concerns and acts as the intermediary between management, security personnel, and agency management. The Security Supervisor also oversees inspections, similar to the Senior Security Supervisor. Additionally, the Security Supervisor manages government dues for the security personnel, including keeping track of payments to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig, as well as processing personnel’s loan applications and requests.
He serves as both the intermediary between the agency management and Araneta Coliseum, and as the company’s “go-to” messenger responsible for distributing billing statements, collecting monthly payments from clients, managing office supplies and equipment, arranging transportation, and running errands to assist anyone in need. Compensation and Benefits
According to government regulations, the salary for staff members, particularly security personnel, is determined by the minimum wage order, which is strictly followed by the agency. Those who have job descriptions and tasks that meet the criteria are entitled to receive allowances and overtime pay. Additionally, staff members are eligible for benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig, which also provide loan options.
Each staff member is permitted to take leave as long as they notify management and arrange for their workload to be covered and approved. Additionally, staff members are provided with life insurance. However, as a medium-sized family business with an informal organizational structure and culture, USSAi faces various challenges that may impact productivity and the overall performance of the company.
One issue is the lack of enforcement and written policies regarding tardiness and absenteeism at this family-owned business. Staff members do not take these matters seriously, with some believing that their tenure in the agency allows them to arrive late or leave early. Another issue is the high level of trust within the company due to its familial nature, with management placing a strong sense of trust in the staff members.
Assistant Corporate Secretaries are responsible for managing sensitive matters, including the company’s finances and personal family issues of staff members. Regrettably, there have been instances of misconduct that have had adverse effects on both the company and the impacted families. Consequently, one Assistant Corporate Secretary resigned during the first quarter of this year due to deficiencies in her management skills, lack of discipline, and dishonest behavior. These problems resulted in difficulties with specific payments and ultimately impacted the agency’s financial stability.
Despite the absence of solid proof, the issue remains unresolved as yet another employee has raised worries regarding the mishandling of finances by the current Assistant Corporate Secretary. The organization is currently facing operational and financial challenges following the unfortunate demise of the Corporate Secretary in the previous quarter. This is significant because not only was the Corporate Secretary a key driving force for the company, but they also played a pivotal role in various aspects.
One of the main concerns for the company is that its primary leader is no longer present. The former Corporate Secretary had been guiding the staff for over a decade, earning their trust and loyalty. With her passing, there are worries about whether the current management can effectively tackle these issues.
