PLDT, through PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT, is supporting the continued expansion of the government’s Unified 911 emergency response platform with the launch of four new satellite command centers (SCCs) that bring faster and more localized emergency services to communities across Northern Luzon and the Visayas.
The new SCCs are located in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Cauayan, Isabela; Tacloban, Leyte; and Leganes, Iloilo. They build on the National Command Center in Manila and the Regional Command Center in Cebu, both launched last year, and extend Unified 911 coverage to additional provinces nationwide.
Emergency assistance in local languages
A key feature of the new satellite command centers is their ability to provide emergency assistance in local languages.
Instead of routing calls to Manila, callers within the covered regions are connected to operators who can communicate in their native dialects, reducing delays caused by language barriers and improving the accuracy of emergency dispatch.
According to Philippine National Police chief Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., who represented Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary Jonvic Remulla during the launch, additional satellite command centers are also planned for Cagayan de Oro and Maguindanao.
“When you dial 911 in Iloilo, the answer will be in Hiligaynon. If you are in Tacloban, the answer is Waray; in Ilocos, Ilocano. That is how advanced our response is, faster, understood, and felt by every Filipino who calls in distress.”
Serving more communities
The four new command centers collectively serve 20 provinces across the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions.
Emergency hotline operators are fluent in at least 10 languages, including English, Filipino, and the major regional languages spoken within their respective service areas. This allows callers to communicate naturally while helping responders dispatch assistance more quickly and accurately.
Technology supporting emergency response
Blums S. Pineda, head of PLDT Enterprise and chairman of ePLDT, said the expanded platform combines digital infrastructure with localized services to strengthen emergency response.
“The launch of the dialect-sensitive Unified 911 satellite command centers is a critical step toward more responsive, inclusive, and resilient emergency services. We believe that technology, combined with local language and local knowledge, can further empower our responders to act faster and serve our communities better.”
Launched in September 2025 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Unified 911 platform was developed in partnership with PLDT, PLDT Enterprise, ePLDT, Next Generation Advanced, and Next Generation Core Services Inc.
The system integrates police, fire, medical, and rescue services into a centralized platform that connects national agencies with local government units. It also supports multiple reporting channels, live video streaming, centralized data reporting through ePLDT’s Pilipinas Cloud, GPS-based location tracking, and geofencing to help coordinate emergency response more efficiently.
PLDT said its continued support for the nationwide rollout aligns with the government’s efforts to modernize emergency response services while strengthening disaster preparedness through digital infrastructure.