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Following the successful launch of four satellite command centers in Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Iloilo, and Tacloban in early June, the country’s Unified 911 system will expand to Mindanao this July with two new dialect-sensitive command centers in Cagayan de Oro and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The two new centers will connect Mindanao to the National Command Center in Metro Manila, the Regional Command Center in Cebu, and existing satellite command centers in the north (Batac, Ilocos Norte) and the Visayas Region (Leganes, Iloilo; and Tacloban City). Additional satellite command centers in Central Luzon (Pampanga) and the Bicol Region (Camarines Sur) are scheduled to open in the third quarter as part of the nationwide rollout.
The Unified 911 system integrates police, fire, and medical emergency services into a single, toll-free, 24/7 emergency network. Equipped to receive and process calls in local dialects, the new command centers are expected to significantly reduce emergency response times by enabling faster, clearer communication between callers and emergency telecommunicators.
“For the first time, emergency response is being built around the communities we serve,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla. “By placing command centers closer to the people and ensuring that emergency telecommunicators speak the local language, we remove barriers during the moments when every second counts. This is how we make emergency assistance faster, more accessible, and truly nationwide.”
Fire Chief Inspector Espiridion Ganibe, head of the BARMM 911 Satellite Command Center, said the ability to communicate in Maranao, Iranun, Maguindanao, Tausug, Yakan, and other local languages enables callers to explain emergencies without language barriers. “This allows us to gather accurate information quickly, dispatch responders faster, and provide more efficient emergency services to our communities,” he said.
In Cagayan de Oro, Fire Chief Inspector Willie M. Tan Jr., head of the Regional Command Center, said emergency calls will now be handled much closer to where incidents occur. “Our emergency telecommunicators are familiar with the local communities, landmarks, and road networks, so they can quickly understand where help is needed,” he said.
Both officials emphasized that speaking directly in Bisaya or BARMM dialects helps callers describe emergencies more accurately, reducing confusion and speeding up response. Tan added that callers often use local terms for places and landmarks, making local language proficiency a critical advantage, especially when callers are distressed or panicking.
The Mindanao command centers are fully integrated into the national Unified 911 network, allowing seamless coordination during major disasters, large fires, severe weather events, or multiple simultaneous emergencies.
“If there is a major disaster, a large fire, severe weather event, or multiple emergencies happening at the same time, we coordinate closely with the National Command Center and other regional centers. Information is shared in real time, and resources can be mobilized quickly wherever they are needed,” Tan said.
Ganibe encouraged BARMM residents to use 911 responsibly for genuine emergencies, assuring them that trained personnel are ready to respond in their local dialect and coordinate immediate assistance. Tan likewise urged the public to remember the emergency number and provide accurate information to help responders act as quickly as possible.
The Unified 911 platform consolidates more than 200 local emergency hotlines into a single nationwide reporting system.
Powered by next-generation emergency response technology from NGA 911 and communications infrastructure from PLDT, the platform supports voice calls, text messages, photos, and live video, enabling responders to make faster, more informed decisions during emergencies.
