By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
In a significant move to broaden the scope of emergency response, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that the upcoming Unified 911 Emergency System will not only handle crime reports, health emergencies, fire incidents, and suspicious activities but will also address mental health concerns.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 24, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a desk in the 911 command center will be designated for mental health intervention and trained professionals from the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) will be deployed to provide psychosocial support.
“Mayroon kaming counselors na kung may nararamdaman ang ating kabataan, o alam n’yong may nararamdaman kayo, p’wedeng tawagan at mayroong p’wedeng rumesponde,” he said.
“Out of 50,000 calls a day ang capacity, we anticipate maybe two percent tungkol sa mental health ang tatawag d’yan,” the Interior chief added, noting that the nationwide rollout of the unified 911 system is targeted by August or September this year.
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Remulla said the government will invest in communication equipment, police vehicles, and fire trucks to boost the response time of first responders.
Powered by cutting-edge technology, the system will utilize existing local emergency hubs as dispatch centers to ensure efficiency.
To address the long-standing issue of prank and nuisance calls, Remulla said the system has been designed with advanced deterrent features that will drastically limit such disruptions.
He said the 911 Emergency Hotline will now be a permanent core program of the DILG, fully integrated into its operational framework and anchored on the direct involvement of frontline response units such as the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“The program’s continuity will not be subjected to changes in the administration or leadership,” Remulla said.
“Kasi continuing investment ‘yan so hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na one year lang ‘yan, sa susunod na taon papalitan na naman. It’s a 10-year investment plan,” the Interior chief added. (PNA)
