The city government here will establish the Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) under the recently approved “Bacolod 911 Ordinance”.
City Ordinance 970, authored by Councilor Israel Salanga, aims to improve public safety and emergency response that calls for a centralized system to further increase the survival rate of constituents in the face of emergencies.
Salanga said in a statement on Tuesday arrangements are ongoing between the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) with the national agency to make “911” a direct line for emergency calls here.
At present, “911” calls for Bacolod are still being received in Manila or Cebu and forwarded to the local DRRMO, he added.
Based on the ordinance, future “911” calls from Bacolod will be free to encourage indigent residents to use the service.
The “911” is designated as the primary number for all emergency, medical, calamity, disaster, and peace and order concerns.
“The ‘Bacolod 911 Ordinance’ is a special program requested by the DRRMO to centralize the emergency response in Bacolod. This will enable our public and private rescue teams to have a systematic response system and well-coordinated efforts. Training will also be conducted for individual volunteers on standard first procedures,” Salanga said.
To improve public safety services, the “Bacolod 911 Ordinance” seeks to address peace and order concerns and set up mechanisms by providing a clear command structure for responsibility and accessibility as well as to encourage and facilitate prompt deployment of seamless emergency services.
Moreover, the MERC will be the only agency that will answer all 911 calls, it added.
Source: Philippines News Agency
