By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
All 911 hotlines in 34 cities across the country will be integrated into a unified Emergency 911 system by August, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday.
During a tour of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Command Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Remulla said that the new system will integrate local government units’ (LGUs) emergency hotlines and closed-circuit television feeds into the DILG’s command center.
The new system, which provides faster and more reliable access to life-saving assistance, will cater to the language of the region in which a call will be made.
“Sa bagong sistema, I think the PNP will have a better response time and better quality of response,” Remulla said.
Among the languages that will be accommodated are Ilocano, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Waray, Bisaya, and Tausug, he added.
The DILG chief also announced that the system was bidded out last July 6 for P1.41 billion to local information technology company ePLDT.
The department is currently conducting a post-qualification, he said.
Remulla assured the public that the existing emergency hotlines set up by LGUs could still be used as dispatch centers to take over if needed.
To boost police response, alongside the new 911 emergency call system rollout, Remulla also committed to providing more vehicles and motorcycles for the PNP.
“We will address a lot of mobility, 1,000 plus motorcycles, 1,000 plus vehicles,” he said.
At the PNP Command Center, PNP chief PGEN. Nicolas Torre III showcased the police force’s readiness, capability, and speed in responding to emergency situations, including its 5-minute response time policy.
Inside the state-of-the-art center, Torre explained firsthand the real-time maps, live monitoring systems, and GPS-integrated tools that enable police to track incidents as they happen —reducing response time and ensuring quick, decisive action.
He said the public no longer needs to look for a police officer on the street, as the system is now fully equipped to provide immediate assistance anytime, anywhere.
Torre emphasized the pride of the organization in its 5-minute response policy.
