MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday appealed to the public to only use the COVID-19 hotlines for emergencies related to the coronavirus disease.
“Let us keep the lines open for those who direly need the assistance of the government on COVID. Panatilihin po natin ang disiplina sa pagtawag sa COVID hotline at siguruhing tunay at importante ang pakay natin,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
(Let us observe discipline in using our COVID hotline and make sure that our concerns and requests are genuine and important.)
Personnel and facilities of 911 national emergency hotline will help in responding to COVID-19 emergency calls, Año said.
Año also assured that COVID-19 hotline call center agents are equipped to handle calls in distress and will refer requests to authorities.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health revealed its emergency hotlines, 02-894-COVID (02-894-26843) and 1555.
Año said initially that hotline 1555 will be available only to PLDT, Smart, Sun and TNT subscribers but 02894-COVID or 02-894-26843 is accessible for all callers nationwide.
So far, the Philippines has recorded 202 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease. Of the 202, 17 have died while seven have recovered from the disease.