Cebu City is now the site of the second communication hub of the country’s unified 911 system launched last September by the DILG, NGA 911, and PLDT in Manila.
The cutting-edge technology from NGA 911 that powers the system and supported by the telecommunications infrastructure of PLDT and ePLDT has revolutionized the country’s emergency response capability, making world-class emergency communication in the country a reality.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla officially launched the new hub in Cebu on October 25 at the PLDT Smart Experience Hub at Osmeña Boulevard, its temporary site. This new launch takes place just a little over a month after the launch of the first and primary hub in Manila last September 11. The permanent site of the Visayan hub will be built at the Bureau of Fire Protection Headquarters in Lapu Lapu City.
After Cebu, six more regional hubs and satellite centers will be put up to complete the system.
Unified 911 command centers connect the public to just one emergency response system when they dial 911, the universal number that has replaced the numerous other different hotlines of various LGUs. The unified system integrates services for police, fire, medical and disaster response, making emergency responders from these institutions accessible and ready to respond to the specific needs of emergency callers.
Available 24/7, the system can handle calls in various local languages and dialects including Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, and more. Trained call takers assist distress callers and are able to respond to calls within five minutes.
Just like the National Command Center (NCC) in Manila, the Visayas Regional Hub is equipped with advanced communication platforms, live video streaming, and centralized data reporting. It also comes with GPS-based tracking for callers and responders, geo-fencing, and real-time CCTV integration—ensuring faster and more accurate emergency response. Calls are now being processed in Cebu, and the region will soon experience the full benefits of GPS-based location tracking technology, currently in its final stage of testing and slated for full implementation soon.
Fully operational upon launch, the Visayas Regional Hub has 20 work stations complete with computers and NGA 911’s patented call handling system.
“The launch of the second hub in Cebu is a national coverage milestone. It is the second step in the national rollout plan for Unified 911, demonstrating the government’s commitment to making emergency services accessible to every citizen, regardless of location or language,” said Robert Llaguno, NGA 911 Philippines Country Head, which provides the cutting-edge technology that runs the system.
“The Visayas Regional Hub uses the same Next Generation 911 technology that powers the National Command Center and the 911 system used in the US,” he explained. “Well designed and truly intended to help people, it is future-proofed and will sustain the test of time, if properly implemented. NGA911 is proud to be entrusted with this opportunity to be part of the effort to revolutionize our emergency response system, and our countrymen are assured of our commitment to implement world-class, emergency call handling and communication and dispatch solutions for them.”
The Visayas Regional Hub now reduces the barriers to emergency access and will make 911 feel closer, more reachable, and more inclusive to the Visayan people, Llaguno added. 
During the launch of the Manila Command Center, Secretary Remulla emphasized that the modernization of the country’s emergency response system is more than technology, it is about saving lives. “With the BFP leading the implementation, supported by the DILG, PLDT, and NGA, we are building a future where no Filipino is left without help when it matters most,” he said.
