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 sa911. Mula noong naging libre kasi ito, dumami ang bilang ng prank calls na natatanggap namin. Ipinaaalala po namin na ang mga prank calls ayrecorded 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).
