DILG: Unified 911 Emergency System starts in Metro Manila, 3 other regions in July
By Chito Chavez
The implementation of the “Unified 911 Emergency System’’ will officially start in July in Metro Manila and three other regions, the the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
Remulla explained that the national emergency response system will be powered by “cutting-edge technology’’ and will reach the other regions in the coming months.
"Puwedeng streaming, maipapakita mo kung anong nangyayari sa iyo, may geolocator, para malaman kung nasaan ka (It can be through streaming, where what is actually happening to you can be seen, there is a geolocator, to track your location),’’ Remulla pointed out.
In the case of “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 noted that about 60 percent of the calls made are ‘pranks,’ based on the experience of the Philippine national Police (PNP).
In the current set-up, Remulla noted that the caller can now be identified and the location of where the calls were made can also be detected, adding that this makes running the 911 emergency system more efficient.
The DILG chief also stated that the 911 Emergency Hotline will now be a permanent core program of the department, fully integrated into its operational framework, anchored on the direct involvement of frontline response units such as the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), both of which are attached agencies of the DILG.
He clarified that the program’s continuity will not be subject to changes in administration or leadership.
“Kasi continuing investment yan, so hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na one year lang yan, sa susunod na taon papalitan na naman. It’s a ten-year investment plan (This is a continuing investment, so you cannot say that this will only last for a year, in the coming years it will be changed. It is a 10-year investment plan),’’ he added.
As for hotlines like the PNP’s 117, Remulla said these will serve as agency command centers to handle 911 calls related to their specific functions, such as crimes for the PNP or fires for the BFP.