The government’s Unified 911 Emergency Response System is expanding into Mindanao with the opening of satellite command centers in Cagayan de Oro and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), strengthening efforts to build a faster and more localized nationwide emergency network.
The two facilities, set to open this July, are the first Unified 911 satellite command centers in Mindanao and will enable emergency operators to communicate with callers in local languages, reducing response delays caused by language barriers.
In BARMM, emergency telecommunicators will be able to receive calls in Maranao, Iranun, Maguindanao, Tausug, Yakan and other regional dialects, allowing responders to gather critical information more accurately and dispatch assistance more quickly.
The rollout follows the launch of satellite command centers in Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Iloilo and Tacloban in June, with additional facilities planned in Pampanga and Camarines Sur later this year. Once completed, all command centers will be linked to the National Command Center in Metro Manila and the Regional Command Center in Cebu, enabling real-time coordination during disasters and major emergencies.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said bringing emergency services closer to communities will make the system more responsive and accessible.
“By placing command centers closer to the people and ensuring emergency telecommunicators speak the local language, we make emergency assistance faster, more accessible, and truly nationwide,” he said.
The expansion is part of the government’s broader effort to modernize emergency response through technology and decentralization. The Unified 911 platform consolidates more than 200 local emergency hotlines into a single nationwide service, using NGA 911 technology and PLDT’s communications infrastructure to support voice calls, text messages, photos and live video.
By integrating local command centers into one digital platform, the government aims to improve coordination among police, fire and medical responders while delivering faster, more reliable emergency assistance across the country.
