THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the country’s modernized Unified 911 system can now detect and filter AI-generated and automated prank calls, strengthening the government’s ability to respond quickly to real emergencies.
The enhanced capability helps ensure that emergency operators and responders can focus on Filipinos who genuinely need urgent assistance.
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen public safety systems, verification mechanisms have been integrated into Unified 911 to identify suspicious and automated calls before they disrupt emergency response operations.
Emergency 911 National Office Executive Director Francis Fajardo said the upgraded system can now recognize patterns linked to AI-generated calls and robo-dialing used for prank or misleading reports.
“May nakarating sa akin na nag-report na AI-generated. Ngayon, sa Unified 911 with our modernized system, nafi-filter natin ‘yang mga robo-calls at AI-generated,” Fajardo said during the DILG Kapihan held today.
“Meron kasi tayo sa system natin na nava-validate natin kung ‘yan ay AI-generated. Sa system, nakikita na natin ‘yan,” he added.
Though data from the National Call Center showed that prank and abandoned calls dropped by 98.3 percent since the modernized system was launched in September 2025, suspicious or non-emergency calls still consume valuable system capacity and may delay assistance to legitimate callers in distress.
The DILG said prank and automated calls can clog emergency lines and delay response to real incidents such as accidents, crimes, fires, and medical emergencies.
To protect the hotline’s capacity, the system now tracks numbers that repeatedly place suspicious or non-emergency calls. Numbers that show a pattern of prank reporting are automatically assigned lower priority, allowing operators to prioritize verified emergencies.
The Department reminded the public that every unnecessary call to 911 risks delaying help for someone whose life may be on the line.
“Iwasan na po natin tumawag kung hindi naman emergency. By the time na kayo na ang mangailangan ng tulong, baka hindi kayo agad masagot,” Fajardo said.
The DILG reiterated that Unified 911 is strictly for emergencies and urged the public to help protect the system by using the hotline responsibly so responders can reach those in danger without delay.
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