Philippines to launch unified 911 emergency hotline Sept 11

The Philippine government is set to launch a unified 911 emergency hotline nationwide on September 11, aiming to streamline and accelerate emergency responses.

This new system will replace over 30 existing local emergency numbers, consolidating them into a single, integrated network for police, fire, medical, and disaster services.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated that the 'Unified 911' aims to end confusion and improve response times, ensuring callers can reach help through one consistent number.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla highlighted the hotline as a 'lifeline' and assured that operators are trained to provide reassurance, with a target response time of five minutes.

The 911 service will be free, available 24/7 across the country, and equipped to handle calls in major Philippine languages.

The Philippines initially adopted the 911 emergency number in 2016, replacing the former Patrol 117 hotline, and it was later institutionalized nationwide by Executive Order No. 56.