PNP chief Police Gen. Jose Nartatez Jr. activates the 911 Command Center in Leganes, Iloilo on Thursday, June 4. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) activated its newest 911 Satellite Command Center in Iloilo to enhance emergency response mechanisms.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Fire Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu led the simultaneous ceremony in Leganes town on Thursday, June 4.
“This is the commitment of our national government to respond to emergencies,” said Nartatez, who represented DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
The ceremony also activated three other 911 command centers – in Batac City, Ilocos Norte; Cauayan, City, Isabela, and Tacloban City, Leyte.
There are now six command centers that handle the DILG’s Philippine Emergency Report Handing Response System (Unified 911). The first two are in Manila and Cebu City.
Developed with private partners PLDT and NGA 911, Unified 911 is a centralized emergency hotline that replaced over 200 local emergency numbers. One key feature of the Unified 911 is call responders who are fluent in Hiligaynon language.
In Leganes, the 911 command center is inside the Leganes Fire Station. Mayor Vicente “Jun-Jun” Jaen II said the local government unit (LGU) of Leganes is committed to supporting the implementation of Unified 911.
Also present during the activation ceremony were DILG Undersecretary of Public Safety Jed Patrick Mabilog, DILG officials, Western Visayas police chief Police Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, Mayor Carl Mondejar of New Lucena town, and Mayor Raisa Treñas of Iloilo City.