Help is now closer to every Filipino.
EXACTLY 385 days after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla took his oath, the first 911 Regional Command Center officially opened in Cebu City on Saturday, bringing faster emergency response and real-time coordination to the people of the Visayas.
Secretary Remulla said this fulfills the very first promise he made to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to deliver a unified 911 system that uses next-generation technology and ensures that no Filipino is left behind in an emergency.
“Today, we have one number: 911. It’s not about just the number. It is about being Filipino. Being Filipino means that we all respect each other. We respect each other enough that the service in Manila, that the service in Cavite is the same as the service here in Cebu, in Bohol, and in Mindanao,” he said.
Remulla explained that for an archipelago like the Philippines with over 100 dialects, the 911 Regional Command Center in the Visayas enables the people from Cebu, Bohol, and nearby provinces to talk to a Visayan-speaking 911 operator on the other line, a service that respects the language, culture, and traditions of the people.
“For the Philippines, being an archipelago of more than 100 dialects, we must respect each other and be together. Despite our differences in politics, we must realize that we are Filipinos, and the service must come as one,” he added.
The first 911 Regional Command Center in Cebu revolutionizes emergency response by integrating the fire, medical, and rescue services under one unified system, aligning Cebu with global standards for rapid, coordinated, and effective crisis intervention.
It uses next-generation advanced (NGA) technology with call handling and system capabilities that can pinpoint the exact location of the caller and first responders for faster emergency response. It also comes with an incident management system, consolidation of all communication channels, integration with Active Directory for call convenience, and report generation.
In support of this initiative, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Fire Chief Director Jesus P. Fernandez committed the full integration of the BFP with partners from the Philippine National Police (PNP), DILG, and the local government units (LGUs), and pledged to support all public information campaigns to ensure responsible use of 911.
PNP Chief Jose Melencio Corpuz Nartatez Jr. said the police force is ready with its vehicle support and equipment, such as body-worn cameras, to ensure improved emergency response.
Meanwhile, Cebu Gov. Pamela S. Baricuatro expressed her gratitude to the President and Sec. Remulla, saying the center means clear communication, faster response, and stronger coordination among frontliners, the LGUs, and the people.
Also present at the launch were DILG Undersecretaries Serafin P. Barretto Jr., Jon Paulo V. Salvahan, and Marlo L. Iringan; DILG Region VII Regional Director Leocadio T. Trovela; DILG Cebu Provincial Director Jesus Robel T. Sastrillo; BFP VII Regional Director Chief Supt. Fred Trajeras; Lapu-Lapu Congressman Junard Chan; Lapu-Lapu Mayor Maria Cynthia King-Chan; Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival; and Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.
The 911 Regional Command Center in Cebu fulfills the President’s vision for a safer, more connected Philippines where help is just a call away. It is made possible through collaboration with PLDT Inc., Next Generation Advanced (NGA 911), Next Generation Core Services (NGCS), and e-PLDT.
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