Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757569041033Screenshot 2025-09-11 133535.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo from DILG&#x27;s Facebook page </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday launched the Unified 911, a single hotline that consolidates all local emergency numbers in the country.</p><p>Under the system, all emergency calls — whether for police, fire, medical, or disaster response — will be routed through one integrated network connecting the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and local governments.</p><p>“We had 35 local government units with their own numbers, we had the Philippine National Police, we had the Bureau of Fire Protection. We had another 200 numbers, then we have 40,000 barangays, where constituents would first call the barangay captain before reaching the BFP, the PNP, or any other response center,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said at the launch.</p><p>“With the Philippines being a very complicated country, it became even more complicated with emergency response. Today, we have one number, and that is 911,” he said. </p><p>The main command center is currently in Sampaloc, Manila, but the government aims to establish at least eight more call centers within 120 days for faster response.</p><p>“This is Phase 1, 60 seats; eventually, there will be 240 seats across the country,” Remulla told reporters.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fvideos%2F3453915964751372%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The new system includes a uniform push-to-talk radio network, expanded surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles, and enhanced mobility with 500 vehicles and 2,000 motorcycles for emergency response.</p><p>The service is free, available 24/7, and language-sensitive, accommodating calls in Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Waray, Tausug, and other local languages. The target response time is five minutes, with trained call takers able to reassure callers in distress.</p><p>On its first full day of operations, Unified 911 received 58,000 calls, 60 percent of which were prank calls.</p><p>“‘Pag ikaw narehistro na bogus, ilalagay ka na sa least priority. Kung tumawag ka uli, hindi ka na papansinin. So, may disincentive talaga ‘yon,” Remulla warned. “Baka pagsisihan niyo ‘yan sa dulo.”</p><p>(If you are registered as a bogus caller, you will be placed in the least priority. If you call again, you will no longer be entertained. So, there’s really a disincentive for that. You might regret it in the end.)</p><p>The government allocated P1.4 billion for the first phase of the project.</p><p>“Today, when they see their withholding tax in their salary and they have an emergency, they will say, now I know where my money went. This is where their money went. We bidded this project without bidders,” Remulla said.</p><div><br/></div><p>RELATED VIDEO:</p>

<p>The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday launched the Unified 911, a single hotline that consolidates all local emergency numbers in the country.</p>

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday launched the Unified 911, a single hotline that consolidates all local emergency numbers in the country.

DILG launches Unified 911 as single nationwide emergency hotline

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DILG launches Unified 911 as single nationwide emergency hotline

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 11, 2025 01:38 PM PHT

|

Updated September 12, 2025 01:32 AM PHT

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DILG

911

emergency hotline

Jonvic Remulla

PNP

BFP

BJMP

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