President Rodrigo Duterte has institutionalized 911 as the nationwide emergency hotline.
Duterte signed Executive Order No. 56 on May 25 making 911 as the nationwide emergency hotline, replacing PATROL 117.
The order was released only to the media on Friday.
“There is a need to change PATROL 117 Hotline Network to Emergency 911 Hotline Number to conform with international standards on emergency numbers for public telecommunication networks,” Duterte said in his order.
The order stated that Emergency 911 would place the Emergency 911 National Hotline Public Safety Answering Center (National Call Center) under the direction and control of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The local government units (LGUs) are enjoined to establish and run local 911 call centers within their area of jurisdiction using their own funds. These local 911 call centers shall however, be under the supervision of the National Call Center,” the order stated.
The primary responders would be the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The BFP would be the lead agency in conducting fire suppression operations and providing the public with emergency medical services, hazardous materials protection, and technical search and rescue services while the PNP would be the lead agency in providing police assistance in relation to public safety and crime prevention.
Other responders include Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, LGUs, and other non-government organizations, hospitals, and medical institutions.
The order also stated that Emergency Commission “shall ensure that all calls made to the Emergency 911 Hotline shall be free of charge and other fees.
The Emergency 911 Commission will have the interior Secretary as the chairperson with the DICT Secretary as vice chairperson. /muf