By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Incidence Response Management
911 in Ilocos Norte continues to save lives as quick-responders continue to act
on hundreds of emergency calls over the last three years.
With a growing number of callers every day, “Agent 5054”,
a call taker at the PIRM center, reported that they receive an average of 50
calls per month or 600 calls annually.
“Most of these cases are vehicular accidents next to
health-related incidents and police assistance due to minor cases like nuisance
and public commotion among others,” he said.
Since it was launched on December 2016, the Ilocos Norte
emergency hotline has grown from four call takers and one police officer on
duty to 11 call takers and four police officers who take turns in a 12-hour
shift. The center has a standby ambulance in front of the Capitol too.
In 2018, the 911 Emergency Response Office was merged
with the Department of Public Safety, adding two nurses and three drivers on
duty round the clock.
Through Executive Order No. 56 signed by President
Rodrigo R. Duterte on May 25, 2018, calling the emergency hotline number is
already free of charge, which doubled the number of callers daily.
In view of this, Wilfredo Lorenzo Jr., of the Provincial
Information and Technology Office officer-in-charge appealed to would-be users to
be responsible when using the hotline.
“Sana’y huwag nating gawing biro ang paggamit sa
911. Mula noong naging libre kasi ito, dumami ang bilang ng prank calls na
natatanggap namin. Ipinaaalala po namin na ang mga prank calls ay
recorded at may kaakibat na parusa para sa mga umaabuso dito,” said Mr. Lorenzo.
Similar to the Davao emergency response model, Ilocos
Norte is the pioneering province to integrate a province-wide emergency hotline
in the country.
Strategically located at the ground floor of the
Provincial Capitol building, it aims to hit an average of 5-minute quick
response in relaying information from a distress caller to field responders
during emergency situations.
For disaster and emergency, Ilocos Norte residents are
advised to call the following hotline numbers: 911, 112, Smart (0999-999-7707)
and Globe (0917-109-9911).
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