The Department of Interior and Local Government has officially launched its first regional command center for the unified 911 Emergency Hotline System in Cebu.
The launch, led by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Saturday, marks a significant stride in President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to providing faster, accessible, and standardized emergency response across the Philippines.
Remulla emphasized the symbolic meaning of the unified number, stating, “Today, we have one number: 911. It’s not about just the number. It is about being Filipino. Being Filipino means that we all respect each other. We respect each other enough that the service in Manila, that the service in Cavite is the same as the service here in Cebu, in Bohol, and in Mindanao.”
The new center in Cebu is designed to align with global standards for rapid and coordinated crisis intervention. It integrates fire, medical, and rescue services under a single, unified system, ensuring a quick and effective response to all urgent cases.
The Cebu center is also localized, allowing callers to speak directly with operators who understand Visayan dialects, removing communication barriers during critical moments. In addition to ground teams, the center is set to deploy drones for aerial monitoring during emergencies, enhancing situational awareness and response capabilities.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro welcomed the initiative, asserting that it will lead to faster communication and stronger action on urgent cases in the region.
While celebrating the launch, the DILG secretary issued a firm warning against misuse of the system. He stated that prank calls will face penalties, as they divert critical resources and response time away from genuine, life-threatening emergencies. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
