By Leilanie Adriano/Philippine News Agency
LAOAG CITY — The Provincial Incidence Response Management (PRIM) 911 in Ilocos Norte continues to save lives as hundreds of emergency calls have been acted upon over the last three years.
A call taker at the PIRM center reported Thursday that they received an average of 50 calls per month, or 600 annually.
“Most of these cases are vehicular accidents, next to health-related incidents and police assistance due to minor cases like nuisance and public commotion, among others,” he said.
Since it was launched in December 2016, the Ilocos Norte emergency hotline is now manned by 11 call takers and four police officers who take turns in a 12-hour shift, from previous four call takers and one police officer.
The center has a standby ambulance in front of the Capitol.
In 2018, the 911 Emergency Response Office was merged with the Department of Public Safety, adding two nurses and three drivers on duty round the clock.
Through an Executive Order 56 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on May 25, 2018, which made call to the emergency hotline number free of charge, doubled the number of callers daily.
Wilfredo Lorenzo Jr., officer-in-charge of the Provincial Information and Technology Office of Ilocos Norte, appealed to would-be users to be responsible when using the hotline.
“Sana’y huwag nating gawing biro ang paggamit sa 911. Mula noong naging libre kasi ito, dumami ang bilang ng prank calls na natatanggap namin. Ipinaaalala po namin na ang mga prank calls ay recorded at may kaakibat na parusa para sa mga umaabuso dito (We appeal to the public to make use of the emergency hotline responsibly. Since it became a free call, we noticed a number of prank calls that we received but let it be known that prank calls are being recorded and they can be charged accordingly,” Lorenzo said.
Similar to Davao emergency response model, Ilocos Norte is the pioneering province to integrate a province-wide emergency hotline in the country.
Strategically located at the ground floor of the Provincial Capitol building, it aims to hit an average of five-minute quick response in relaying information from a distressed caller to field responders during emergency situations.
For disaster and emergency, Ilocos Norte residents are advised to call the following hotline numbers: 911, 112, Smart (0999-999-7707) and Globe (0917-109-9911).
For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website
