Quezon City: The Unified 911 Emergency System will officially go live in July in the National Capital Region (NCR), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Regions 1 (Ilocos) and 7 (Central Visayas), Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday. In a press conference at the Quezon City Police District headquarters, Remulla announced that the Unified 911 will be powered by cutting-edge technology and will be expanded to other regions in the succeeding months, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive.

According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla emphasized the deployment of the latest technology, which includes features like streaming and geolocation services to enhance emergency response capabilities. He mentioned the system's advanced deterrent features designed to address the long-standing issue of prank and nuisance calls, which have historically accounted for 60 percent of emergency calls to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Remulla outlined that the 911 Emergency Hotline will now be a permanent core program under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), fully integrated into its operational framework. This integration involves frontline response units such as the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), both attached to the DILG. He assured that the program's continuity would not be affected by changes in administration or leadership, emphasizing its long-term investment plan spanning a decade.

Additionally, Remulla clarified the role of existing hotlines like the PNP's 117, which will continue to operate as agency command centers handling 911 calls related to their specific functions, such as crimes for the PNP or fires for the BFP.