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Those living in Visayas can now access faster emergency response and real-time coordination after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) inaugurated the country’s first 911 Regional Command Center in Cebu City on Saturday, Oct. 25, 385 days after Secretary Jonvic Remulla took his oath of office.
The Cebu facility marks the first major milestone in the government’s plan to build a nationwide 911 network that connects Filipinos to emergency responders through a single, unified number — regardless of where they are in the country.
“This is not just about technology or infrastructure,” Remulla said during the launch. “It’s about being Filipino — making sure that the service in Manila or Cavite is the same as the service here in Cebu, in Bohol, and across Mindanao.”
Designed for the country’s unique geography and linguistic diversity, the Cebu 911 Command Center allows Visayan-speaking residents to communicate directly with operators who understand their dialects — an approach Remulla described as ‘a service that respects the language, culture, and traditions of the people.
“For an archipelago of more than 100 languages, respect means being understood,” Remulla said. “Despite our political or cultural differences, we must realize that we are one people — and our service must reflect that.”
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The command center integrates fire, medical, and rescue operations under one system, bringing the Visayas in line with global standards for rapid and coordinated crisis response.
It also employs Next Generation Advanced (NGA) technology that can accurately pinpoint the caller’s location and track first responders in real time. The system includes an incident management platform, consolidated communication channels, Active Directory integration for call convenience, and automatic report generation.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Chief Director Jesus Fernandez vowed full integration of BFP’s operations with those of the Philippine National Police (PNP), DILG, and local governments, emphasizing the importance of public awareness to prevent prank calls and system misuse.
In addition, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police would deploy vehicle support and body-worn cameras to enhance transparency and efficiency in emergency response.
