Angeles City launches app to boost emergency response, public safety

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The Angeles City local government launches the POGI emergency app, enabling residents to report incidents and share locations for quicker emergency response

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Angeles City residents and visitors can now report untoward incidents and provide their exact location to emergency responders through a new mobile app launched on Tuesday, January 28.

The computer-based information system (CBIS) Personal On-call Guard Interface (POGI) mobile app is the first of its kind in Central Luzon. Designed to enhance the city’s emergency response capabilities, the app allows residents to directly report incidents and share their precise location with responders from the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO).

The POGI app is free and user-friendly, currently available for Android users via the Google Play Store. It will be available for iOS users within six weeks. The registration and verification process may take up to 48 hours.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has set a goal to limit emergency response time in the highly urbanized city to 10 to 15 minutes. With the introduction of this app, Lazatin expects to further reduce response times to just 8 minutes.

“Dahil sa app na ‘to kakayanin natin na mas mababang response time. Yapin ini ing amanwan ku. (Because of this app, we can now reduce the response time. This is what I’m talking about.) The safety of every Angeleño is our priority. With this app, we can reduce response time and ensure help arrives faster during critical moments,” Lazatin said during the launch event.

“Hinahamon ko po ang ating mga responders na mas pabilisin pa ang emergency response time para sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(I challenge our responders to speed up the emergency response time for our fellow Filipinos.)

Mike Lising, Information Communication and Technology Division chief, said that the app included a location-sharing feature, allowing responders to pinpoint incidents with greater accuracy, even if users cannot communicate directly.

The app’s registration process involves both users and responders, as well as the dispatching of responders from ACDRRMO, the Bureau of Fire Protection – Angeles City, and the Angeles City Traffic and Management Enforcement Unit. Non-residents of Angeles City can also download and use the app.

Angeles City Chief Adviser IC Calaguas said the app is fully protected under data privacy laws. She added that it is fully integrated with the city’s Command Center and ACDRRMO’s existing systems, ensuring seamless communication and efficient information transfer.

Calaguas said that the app’s long-term goal is to reduce fatalities during disasters and emergencies by enabling immediate responses from authorities, particularly medical personnel. She added that the use of the app was expected to serve as a deterrent to crime, given the faster response times from authorities.

“The city government, through the ICTD, is continuously collaborating with our service provider to ensure the safety of our app users. The app features a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to use,” Calaguas said.

To further enhance efficiency, each ambulance has been equipped with mobile phones to allow real-time tracking of reports through the app. –Rappler.com

CAPTION:

POGI APP. Angeles City launches the POGI app on January 28, 2025 which allows residents and non-residents alike to report incidents and share their location for faster emergency assistance. Available as CBIS on Google Playstore