By Christopher Hedreyda
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA)—Calabarzon residents can expect an improved emergency response when they dial the Philippine National Police’s unified Emergency 911 (E911) hotline.
Brigadier Gen. Jack Wanky, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office IV-A, said the E911 enables the police to respond to emergency calls within five minutes.
“The 911 hotline serves as a bridge to bring the police closer to any part of the community. Just dial 911 and we will respond immediately — within just five minutes. We don’t just respond to traditional emergencies but also to incidents like bullying,” Wanky said.
When a citizen dials 911 and presses “1” for police assistance, the system immediately routes the call to the PNP Command Center, activating the PNP’s emergency response protocols.
When “2” is pressed for fire-related emergencies or “3” for emergency medical services, the system promptly routes the call to the appropriate agency like the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) or emergency medical responders.
The PNP has started promoting the upgraded emergency hotline, which was activated beginning July, by posting stickers and posters in schools and public transportation spots throughout Calabarzon.
Other campaign materials like stickers, bookmarks, and customized fans were also distributed to students and teachers of the Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School in Calamba City and drivers of tricycles and e-bicycles within the barangay as part of the campaign to broaden the public’s knowledge on the proper use of the 911 hotline.
The E911 system is among the key programs of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in instituting a more responsive and secure nation that provides Filipinos with faster, more reliable access to life-saving assistance.
It serves as the government’s central emergency hotline for all types of emergencies—be it crime, fire, medical, or other emergency rescue services. As a whole-of-government approach, it integrates national agencies and local units into one coordinated platform.
“We created an Integrated Patrol Deployment Plan (IPDP), sectorized our areas, and established fixed visibility points or strategic points where we deployed our patrol officers. This way, if there’s a need to respond from a specific quadrant, the officers assigned there can respond and reach the area within five minutes,” Wanky said.
The police forces in provincial, city, and municipal police stations have been conducting simulation exercises to check their readiness to respond within the allotted time.
Part of the PNP4A’s IPDP is improving police visibility and operations and conducting routine patrols where crimes frequently occur.
