911 EMERGENCY HOTLINE IN THE PHILIPPINES, PERTURB BY PRANK CALLS

Most of the calls received in 911 are prank calls, pranker’s to be filed with criminal charges  (Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Information Center/Inquirer)

The Philippines launched new 911 emergency hotline system now delivers quicker and more efficient responses with the implementation of advanced technology according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Before, we did it manually. Now, because of technology, the actions become faster. It’s important that the call is being forwarded swiftly and then the location of the caller anywhere in the Philippines is being forwarded swiftly as well,” DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said.

The new 911 system features include precise caller location services, advanced mapping and incident management systems, data analytics, video streaming, omni-channel messaging, and the integration of body and vehicle cameras for emergency response.

Meanwhile, Abalos warned prank callers that criminal charges can be filed against them as authorities can easily track them. “This hotline is for efficient resolving of accident or crimes. Don’t made a mockery of this system.”

As the E911 National Call Center previously recorded an average of 50,000 calls daily and only 500 of the calls were legitimate. "With the new system all those prank callers first and foremost they can identify and they can locate because of the capabilities of the new system our GPS then the consistent prank callers we can track them so they are less priority. Not blocked but less priority.”

The Next Generation Advanced 911 (NGA 911), an emergency calling technology company, said “We are the first Next Gen 911 country in Southeast Asia because Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, they are all benchmarking now against the Philippines.”

Furthermore, the Philippine National Police, announced that more local government units and state agencies will be connected to the 911 emergency hotline as part of the government's plan to expand it.

Source: Manila Standard  

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