First Unified 911 Regional Command Center Outside Metro Manila Opens in Cebu City

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) inaugurated on Saturday, October 25, the country’s first Regional Command Center for the Unified 911 emergency system outside Metro Manila, located in Cebu City.

The new facility will serve as the central hub for all emergency calls across Central Visayas, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen its public safety and disaster response network.

It consolidates police, fire, medical, and disaster calls under a single hotline — 911 — effectively replacing more than 30 different emergency numbers previously used nationwide.

According to DILG Secretary Juan Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, the Unified 911 system was designed to eliminate response delays by linking all emergency agencies through one centralized network. “The goal is faster and more coordinated emergency action,” he said during the launch.

Central Visayas Coverage

The newly established command center will cater to the entire Region 7 — which includes Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor — providing round-the-clock operations. The facility is staffed by 20 personnel per shift and can receive calls through landline, mobile phone, Viber, or WhatsApp, all free of charge.

A key feature of the system is its geolocation technology, which enables operators to pinpoint where a call originates in real time. This allows for faster coordination with the nearest police, fire, or medical units.

“Meron kaming geolocator. Kung saan galing yung call, kunwari nasa Bohol ka, kung anong barangay sa Bohol, alam namin kaagad kung nasaan ka,” Remulla explained.

“Kung sabihin mong emergency, at mali yung address na binibigay mo, ida-drop na namin ‘yon kase fake eh. Pero kung tama ang binibigay mong address, ang nearest dispatch, tatawagan agad, darating within 5-10 minutes,” he added.

He added that the system enforces a “five-ring policy,” meaning every emergency call must be answered within five rings. The expected emergency response time is approximately five minutes, depending on the location and traffic conditions.

Warning Against Prank Calls

Remulla also cautioned the public against making prank calls to the 911 hotline. The new system includes an advanced tracking mechanism capable of tracing prank calls through mobile geolocation.

“Kung prank call siya, ilalagay siya sa archive, number one. Number two, since may geolocator, pwede ka naming habulin. Kahit san ka pumunta, basta nakabukas yang cellphone mo, hahabulin ka namin,” the DILG chief said.

“So fair warning sa lahat ng prank callers, kung kayo mahahabol, you will be charged with Unjust Vexation and you will face jail time. Kase it’s in the expense kung sino talaga yung may emergency eh. So we will charge them,” he added.

He stressed that prank calls not only waste government resources but also endanger lives by diverting responders from genuine emergencies.

Training and Expansion

Personnel assigned to the new Cebu command center underwent extensive training in Manila as part of the DILG’s broader effort to modernize and expand the national 911 network.

The department aims to complete full nationwide coverage by March 2026, ensuring that every province in the country will have access to the unified emergency hotline.

Local officials, including Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr., Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Maria Cynthia “Cindi” King Chan, attended the launch ceremony.

They lauded the project, saying it would enhance coordination among local emergency response units and improve public safety across the region.

Towards Faster, Unified Response

Remulla emphasized that the Unified 911 system will make emergency response more efficient by eliminating confusion from multiple hotlines.

“This is part of our goal to make public service faster, more reliable, and accessible to every Filipino,” he said.

The 911 hotline remains free and operational 24 hours a day for emergencies related to crime, fire, accidents, or natural disasters.

With the opening of the new command center in Cebu City, residents of Central Visayas can now expect faster, more coordinated responses when seconds matter most.