• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod City is preparing for the official launch of its localized 911 emergency hotline this week, following a recent inspection by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) national office.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said Aug. 17 the initiative provides residents with direct, toll-free access to emergency dispatch services managed directly within the city.
He said the localized setup addresses previous language barriers and dispatch delays caused by calls being routed outside the region.
“This time, since 911 is localized, all calls will be answered in Bacolod City,” Gasataya said. “The time element is very important because every minute saved through a quick response can save lives.”
Calls will be handled by personnel manning the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Command Center.
The mayor said the city government purchased additional ambulances and equipment, trained cross-departmental first-responder teams, and assigned personnel at the regional hospital to streamline stretcher turnarounds. | TMD
