Alaminos City has made history as the first city in the Philippines to activate a state-of-the-art 911 emergency hotline, aimed at enhancing public safety and rapid response efforts.
This advanced system represents a significant breakthrough in disaster preparedness, offering Alaminos City residents easy access to emergency services and simplifying the process by allowing them to dial only three-digit and easy-to-remember numbers during critical situations.
On Sept. 10, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Alaminos City inaugurated this new state-of-the-art 911 hotline alongside a new City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) building with a command center for disaster resilience and maximum protection of its residents.
“Long contact numbers are often not saved, and in moments of panic, people may struggle to find the number quickly. This system is revolutionary because it ensures that every citizen, including children, can easily remember and use it when needed,” Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste said.
The 911 system goes beyond traditional emergency calling by automatically providing the caller’s address and phone number, enabling more efficient tracking and rapid deployment of emergency response teams for crimes, fires, and ambulance services.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) praised Alaminos City for becoming the first city in the Philippines to activate the 911 emergency hotline, marking a significant milestone in emergency response.
“We are encouraging LGUs to step up because we need this kind of technology since we know we experience a lot of disasters,” said Atty. Juan Victor Llamas, DILG undersecretary for external, legal, and legislative affairs.
Llamas also outlined the steps for LGUs to adopt the 911 system under Executive Order No. 56, including passing a resolution to establish a 911 local call center and submitting a letter of intent to DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr..
He added that DILG will also provide training, technical, and financial support to help LGUs to meet these requirements.
The new system, powered by Next Generation Advanced (NGA) 911 technology, has advanced technology features. It integrates IoT devices, CCTV cameras, early warning systems, enhanced coordination and collaboration and improved geographic information systems and has access to real-time reports. Celeste said the integration promises faster response times and improved situational awareness, making the CDRRMO more effective in handling emergencies.
Robert Andrew Llaguno, country head manager of NGA 911 Philippines, noted that the geofencing for emergency calls covers a radius of about five to eight yards (approximately half a basketball court) with a 90 percent accuracy rate within that range.
Llaguno said for now, users of SMART and PLDT telecommunications in Alaminos City can be directly connected to the 911 system in Alaminos while other networks will be directed to the national center in Manila.
He highlighted the faster response time made possible by the 911 system, which requires only two to three steps for emergency response.
When a caller uses the 911 hotline from Alaminos, the call is immediately routed to the local CDRRMO command center. This allows for a swift dispatch of necessary response teams, such as police, fire, medical, and public order and safety office (POSO) personnel, as the caller’s location is automatically identified.
However, if the caller is located in another city or municipality in Pangasinan, the call may be directed to the national center in Manila. In the latter case, the national center will contact the LGU concern, which will then contact the appropriate response team for dispatch.
Meanwhile, Francis Fajardo, executive director of the Emergency 911 of DILG, mentioned that during periods of high call volume, calls may be forwarded to the national call center to ensure they are handled appropriately.
He said if Alaminos City’s command center becomes overwhelmed, calls will be routed to the national center in Manila for dispatch.
Meanwhile, the newly-built CDRRMO building, located on Quezon Avenue across from the Don Leopoldo Sison Convention Center, features a state-of-the-art command center on the third floor, enhancing its ability to manage emergencies effectively and save lives.
With the activation of the 911 emergency hotline, residents of Alaminos City now benefit from faster and more reliable emergency response services.
Faye Lorraine Ibe, a resident of Barangay Sta. Maria, Bued, appreciated the convenience of the system, noting that 911 is easier to remember and dial compared to longer government hotline numbers.
“Even children and the elderly can easily dial and remember it, and 911 is recognized globally. It’s great to have it here in Alaminos,” Ibe said.
With the new 911 emergency hotline, Alaminos City residents are better protected in times of crisis.
