911 emergency hotline launched in Tagbilaran

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TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — This city has set a new benchmark for emergency response in the region with the launch of the first-ever 911 hotline in the province.

Officially launched on April 25, this initiative is a crucial step in improving public safety in a province frequently hit by natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes.

The launch is part of Tagbilaran's broader efforts to streamline emergency services and enhance the efficiency of its disaster preparedness programs.

STATE OF THE ART Emmanuel Supremo, the emergency unit supervisor at the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, shares how the 497 city-installed cameras assist in monitoring street conditions, while three operators in the same room manage incoming calls at the 911 command center of Tagbilaran City. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES

The city government, in collaboration with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), invested P6 million in the new system, which is expected to provide faster and more reliable emergency responses for its residents.

Mayor Jane Yap expressed pride in the city's progress, stating that the introduction of the 911 hotline underscores Tagbilaran's commitment to becoming a smarter, safer city.

"As your first woman mayor, I am honored to lead a city that is now smarter, safer and more responsive — ready to save lives with just one call," she said.

The 911 hotline integrates existing emergency lines in the city, such as the 411-222, into a single, more efficient system that ensures redundancy. In case of a technical issue with one hotline, another will immediately take over, allowing uninterrupted service.

This integration will also help in data accuracy and facilitate faster response times during emergencies.

Emmanuel Supremo, officer from the CDRRMO Emergency Communications Unit, shared that several calls have already been processed since the hotline went live, with most involving vehicular accidents and the need for medical transport.

"Emergency dispatch operations have become more efficient," he said.

The hotline's free-of-charge service eliminates the concern of phone load, which previously discouraged some callers from staying on the line long enough to provide vital information.

Marko Emmanuel Longjas, head of the CDRRMO Research and Planning Division, explained that the Tagbilaran 911 service is geofenced, meaning it is designed for use only by city residents.

Calls made from outside of Tagbilaran City will be redirected to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which will then refer the case to the appropriate local government unit.

This feature ensures that the service remains focused on its target area while still being connected to a broader emergency network.

The city also continues to use its innovative "yellow phones," strategically placed in accident-prone and high-density areas, to provide residents with an easy way to reach emergency services.

When a caller picks up one of these phones, a city-designated operator immediately answers, without the need for dialing an emergency number.

The area around each yellow phone is monitored by CCTV cameras to prevent misuse and esure security.

In addition to the hotline, the command center that operates the system is equipped with the latest technology, including 497 city-installed cameras that help monitor the streets in real time.

The city receives an average of 13 emergency calls per day, primarily involving medical and trauma cases caused by accidents. Response times average three to five minutes, a significant improvement in how quickly help can arrive.

Tagbilaran's successful rollout of the 911 hotline places the city at the forefront of disaster response in the region.

Tagbilaran is now the second city in Central Visayas to implement the 911 system, following Cebu City's launch in September 2024.