TABUK CITY Kalinga – Councilor Atty. Ivan Yannick Bagayao pushed for the immediate establishment of the city’s Emergency Medical Response Communication System (EMRCS) during a meeting with the Emergency 911 National Office under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), headed by Executive Director Francis Fajardo.
Bagayao, the principal author of Ordinance No. 019 s. 2024 establishing a 911 hotline in Tabuk, led the city’s newly formed 911 Emergency Response Team on a visit to the DILG Office in Quezon City on February 26 to 27, 2025, to discuss the system’s implementation and benchmark the 911 National Call Center.
During the meeting, Fajardo expressed his support to the city government and committed to expedite the training and capacitation of personnel who will man the call center.
Fajardo set the Capacity Development in March 2025, to accelerate the fulfilment of other prerequisites and requirements for the center’s activation, which Bagayao targeted to finish by June.
He also advised the city to train more personnel to ensure adequate staffing. “Damihan niyo na, lahat ng personnel niyo sa CDRRMO, para mas maraming pwedeng umupo.”
The director supported the upscaling, emphasizing the establishment of the center is crucial as it ensures efficient emergency response.
“Kapag alam ng response team na recorded [ang tawag], hindi sila pwedeng ma-delay, mas mabilis ang response time,” said Fajardo, highlighting how real-time monitoring enhances efficiency. “Ganoon ang isang advantage ng 911.”
Information Technology Officer Antonio Zafra also joined Fajardo to discuss the basics and provide insights into the technical aspects of setting up a center.
Accompanying Bagayao in Quezon City were the City Information and Technology Office (CICTO) headed by CICTO Head Erwin Manadao, PNP representative and Command Center duty officer Chikee Zinampan, and City Information Office Asst. Head Geraldine Dumallig.
Ordinance No. 019 otherwise known as “An Ordinance Establishing the Emergency Medical Response Communication System of Tabuk City,” aims to enhance emergency response by efficiently receiving, relaying, recording, and monitoring all emergency calls such as but not limited to police, fire, medical and rescue assistance.
According to Bagayao, this initiative is through the leadership of Mayor Darwin Estrañero, who urged the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass the necessary legislation for the establishment of the same. By Rio Bassong
