'REVITALIZED 911'. Next Generation Advanced (NGA) 911 founder and chief executive officer Don Ferguson, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Emergency 911 National Office executive director Francis Fajardo, and PLDT first vice president and head of enterprise and international business groups Albert Mitchell Locsin (left to right) show a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the Emergency 911 National Summit at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday (Aug 14, 2024). The MOU provides for the cooperation of the four entities on the use of a seamless system of technology in revitalizing the Philippines' 911 emergency hotline. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and telecommunications giant PLDT, Inc. have joined forces in revitalizing the country's 911 emergency hotline through the use of a seamless system of technology.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Emergency 911 National Office executive director Francis Fajardo, United States-based firm Next Generation Advanced (NGA) 911 founder and chief executive officer Don Ferguson, and PLDT first vice president and head of enterprise and international business groups Albert Mitchell Locsin signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the Emergency 911 National Summit at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday.
“The MOU is just a generic cooperation, which would also involve PLDT. It would assist our local government units (LGUs) because PLDT has so many requirements in terms of setting up these systems. We hope that they would be able to assist the LGUs in setting up this 911 system for immediate emergency response," Abalos said in an interview.
This seamless technology will establish inter-connectivity of the 911 hotline among the country's more than 7,000 islands, he added.
''We received about 28,346 calls from January to June. And of this number, close to 24,000 are emergency calls. These need immediate response," he said.
Abalos said he hopes to extend the revitalized 911 system to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as it is only focused on the Philippine National Police (PNP).
He said the number of interior department personnel who take calls from the hotline has increased from 30 to 150 with augmentation from the PNP, BFP, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Abalos said the lack of ample manpower for the hotline would be addressed by modern technology.
Weeding out prank callers
Fajardo, meanwhile, said the modernized emergency 911 system would discourage prank callers as they could now be easily located.
He said the patented call handling system by NGA 911 now has the technology that could provide 80 percent to 90 percent accuracy.
Fajardo noted that the NGA system includes advanced mapping, incident management systems, and IP (internet protocol) camera integrations.
He said the commitment to public safety is unwavering through meticulous planning and dedication as they have crafted a comprehensive strategy that integrates cutting-edge technology, data-driven analytics, rigorous training, and resilient infrastructure.
The number of activated E911 Local Call Centers has tripled, with LGUs expressing their interest in having activated E911 local call centers before the year ends, he added.
“We are committed to share our knowledge and expertise to all LGUs nationwide, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability at all levels of governance. Through the establishment of standards and incentive schemes, we aim to encourage widespread participation in this shared mission,” Fajardo said. (PNA)
