Cebu City to have its own 911 emergency service

(The Freeman) Updated June 21, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City will soon have its own version of Rescue 911, according to councilor Gerardo Carillo, head of the Cebu City Disaster and Coordinating Council.

This after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña approved the use of a building in Mambaling as the headquarters of the responding team.

Carillo said they received P30 million worth of computers, software and hardware from the Visayan Electric Company which will be used for the action center.

Initially he said the plan was to put up the center at Kawit Island in the South Road Properties, but the mayor agreed to the Mambaling option for the sake of convenience.

The vacant lot in front, Carillo said, will be used as parking lot for their standby vehicles.

“It is going to be a call and receiving center, we will take all types of emergencies and coordinate responses be it for fire, police assistance, drowning, bomb threats and even suicide attempts,” Carillo said.

The agencies under the Rescue 911 include the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire and Protection, Department of Social Welfare and Services, Department of Public Services and all the other agencies under the CDCC.

“It will be one organized center ready and open 24/7,” Carillo said.

He said that they just need an executive order from Osmeña to legalize the center and to be followed by an ordinance on the part of the city council.

An average of 25 emergencies annually is recorded by CDCC. — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)