TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Determined to enhance public safety and emergency preparedness, Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estrañero is expediting the implementation of the city’s 911 emergency response system.
The establishment of the 911 command system aims to provide immediate access to police, fire, or medical assistance in times of crisis, effectively saving lives by facilitating rapid response to emergencies.
A delegation headed by Councilor Ivan Yannick Bagayao, the primary author of Ordinance No. 019 Series of 2024, which creates the city’s Emergency Medical Response Communication System, has been commissioned by the mayor as part of this endeavor. The group will include personnel from the city government including members of the City Information and Technology Office (CICTO), led by Erwin Manadao, who will be visiting Quezon City’s 911 Command Center early this year to see how it functions as a prototype for Tabuk’s own emergency response center.
According to Estrañero, it is an essential step in establishing Tabuk City’s 911 emergency response system. “With our city’s rapid growth and transformation into a first-class city, there is an urgent need for a more sophisticated and well-coordinated emergency response system,” he said.
The team will explore the possibilities of working with Quezon City government to set up workshops and training programs because emergency responders’ readiness to manage emergencies efficiently is one of the primary conditions for Tabuk City’s accreditation to operate its own 911 command center.
A committed team made up of employees from the Public Order and Safety Office, BFP-Tabuk, Tabuk City Police Office, CICTO, and other designated personnel will work around the clock to provide continuous emergency response services at the proposed 911 headquarters, which will be housed within the current command center.
The CICTO has begun evaluating the city’s CCTV infrastructure in order to facilitate the system’s deployment and improve readiness and monitoring. According to their preliminary estimates, a minimum of 200 CCTV cameras will be necessary for thorough citywide surveillance. For the 911 emergency response system to be successful, strengthening Tabuk City’s surveillance infrastructure is thought to be essential.
Mayor Estrañero underlined his commitment to putting public safety first. “In addition to saving lives, a fully operational 911 system promotes peace and order by ensuring a coordinated emergency response. We are determined to make this a reality as soon as possible,” he stated. By Jesse Maguiya
