PNP eyes 5 minutes emergency response time as it bolsters 911 hotline

Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil speaks during a gun show and tactical event in Mandaluyong City on June 20, 2024.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is targeting to reduce its response time to incidents from 15 minutes to five minutes, according to its chief General Rommel Marbil.

Marbil on Thursday said this is the goal of the revitalized Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) emergency 911 service, which will be launched in Metro Manila and expanded nationwide.

“This initiative aims to reduce response time from 15 minutes to approximately five minutes ensuring faster and more effective emergency assistance,” Marbil said in his speech during PNP’s 123rd anniversary in Camp Crame.

In line with this, Emergency 911 National Office executive director  Francis Fajardo asked the NGA 911 or Next Generation Advanced 911 to provide PNP with its patented call handling system.

Robert Llaguno, country head of NGA 911, said the company offers a digital, internet protocol (IP)-based system that will replace the analog 911 infrastructure that’s been around for decades.

Llaguno said the NGA 911 call handling system that will be trialed by the PNP will include the hardware, software, data and all of the procedures and policies.
Among the unique features of NGA’s technology is its ability to provide the accurate location of the caller, according to him.

“For example, when someone calls 911, the location of that particular caller is immediately provided and the search radius is limited to just about five yards with 90 percent accuracy,” Llaguno said in a statement.