The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reminded the public to use the country’s emergency hotline responsibly as the government expands the Unified 911 system nationwide, warning that prank calls could delay assistance to people in genuine emergencies.
The appeal came on Friday following the rollout of Unified 911 satellite command centers in Iloilo, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, and Leyte, part of efforts to strengthen and decentralize emergency response operations across the country.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who attended the activation of the Iloilo satellite command center on Thursday, said safeguards have been put in place to prevent misuse of the system while ensuring that legitimate emergency cases are promptly addressed.
“The blocking mechanism is designed to deter repeated abuse of the 911 system, but we will ensure that legitimate emergency concerns are properly addressed. We encourage the public to use the hotline responsibly so that emergency services remain accessible to those who truly need assistance,” Nartatez said in a statement.
Under the system, individuals who make three prank calls may be blocked from accessing the hotline.
Authorities said the platform can trace both the mobile number and location of callers who misuse the service.
Once blocked, the individual may no longer be able to access the 911 emergency system.
“The 911 hotline is a lifeline that can save lives. We appeal to the public to use it responsibly and avoid prank calls, as every false report can delay assistance to people facing real emergencies,” Nartatez added.
Photo courtesy of PNP / Facebook
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