PROTECT 2005:  After 9-11, the world was challenged by increasing threats from terrorism.  Because private companies own more critical infrastructures than governments, boardrooms began to face the increasing likelihood that terrorists will attack “soft targets” owned by the private sector.

Borne out of concern by several business executives that their military and government sources are restrained from sharing information with the private sector, Leverage International, a Philippine management consulting firm, decided to organize in cooperation with the Task Force for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures and eventually the Anti-Terrorism Task,  PROTECT 2005:  a conference on “Doing Business Amidst New Threats” with a supporting exhibit of equipment and services for the protection of critical infrastructures.  This was held on June 8-10, 2005 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

The conference was in response to threats and challenges arising from terrorism in Southeast Asia.  There was a strong need for strategic knowledge to improve organizational structures to face possible business disruptions caused by acts of terrorism.  An authoritative panel of experts was organized to brief senior officers of major private companies on the actual threats to security and the response to such threats.   

167 senior-level delegates from the private sector, government agencies, foreign embassies and media attended the conference.  There were 23 exhibitors in the supporting exhibit visited by 2,511 trade visitors.  The objective of the conference was achieved, which was to awaken the attention of business to the actual threats of terrorism. 

PROTECT 2006:  Following the success of PROTECT 2005, PROTECT 2006 was organized again by the Anti-Terrorism Task Force and Leverage International.  The agenda for the conference on “Doing Business Amidst New Threats II” focused on the strategic approach towards countering terrorism by uncovering common interest and needs of different business sectors, for their protection against dangers to security arising from terrorism.   On the other hand, the conference was to define to the business sector the major role of the government’s law enforcement agencies. 

This time, the Anti-Terrorism Task Force sought the assistance of the US State Department in inviting high ranking officials of the Department to participate in the PROTECT 2006 conference.  Positive response was received from the U.S. government with the participation as speakers of the following:  Mr. Douglas Allison, Executive Director of the Overseas Security Advisory Council of the US Department of State; Mr. Jacob M. Wohlman, Regional Security Officer of the US Embassy in Manila; and Mr. Earl R. Miller, Regional Security Officer of the US Embassy in Jakarta. 

To attain its objective of determining specific needs of different industry sectors, break-out  sessions by specific sectors were held during the afternoons of the 2-day conference.  The 4 major break-out sessions were for:  1)  Cyber, public services and banks;  2)  specialized security   for   multinationals;   3)   public   utilities,   transportation  and  buildings;   and 4)  bioterrorism.   
PROTECT 2006 proved to be a continuing success with 210 delegates attending from business, government agencies, foreign embassies and media.  Complementing the conference was a specialized exhibit led by Hitachi Asia, IBM, Sony and others.   

PROTECT 2008:  After the final approval of the Anti-Terrorism Law formalizing the creation of the Anti-Terrorism Council mid 2007, the Anti-Terrorism Council and Leverage International organized the third series of PROTECT last March 6-7, 2008 at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati, Manila. 

This time, the main feature of the agenda was cyberterrorism.  Representatives of company members of the National Cyber Security Coordination Office under the Office of the President discussed trends and issues on cybersecurity.  To further pinpoint the needs of business, after general presentations and discussions on common concerns, two parallel break-out sessions were held:  Session A on Services, Public Utilities and the Hospitality Sector and Session B:  Critical Infrastructures.

The PROTECT series has been recognized to be a serious forum for communicating areas of concern between business and government in the area of security. 

During the last conference, the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research was officially launched.  This is a local think tank dedicated to research on safety and security. 

PROTECT 2009:  The PROTECT 2009 series on “Doing Business Amidst New Threats IV” highlighted the emerging challenges of general safety and security issues amidst the prevailing worldwide economic downtrend. The conference provided critical information for business operators, law-enforcement authorities and security professionals for a sound insight into new threats facing the business sector and other broad aspects of society particularly in the areas of pandemics, cyber security, maritime threats, supply chain disruptors, counterfeiting, business continuity planning and recovery, information and intelligence. International and regional developments affecting the future of security were also discussed. A specialized exhibit presented solutions to meet the discerning needs for present and future security.