Unified 911 system to launch two satellite command centers in Mindanao

Two dialect-sensitive command centers in Mindanao will be rolled out this month under the Unified 911 system, expanding the reach of the country’s emergency network.

“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,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla in a statement.

“This is how we make emergency assistance faster, more accessible, and truly nationwide,” he added.

The two new centers, located in Cagayan de Oro and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), will be connected to the National Command Center in Metro Manila, the Regional Command Center in Cebu, and other satellite command centers in Batac, Ilocos Norte, and the Visayas Region.

Authorities said that responders in the new centers can communicate in local languages, such as Bisaya, Maranao, Iranun, Maguindanao, Tausug, and Yakan, eliminating language barriers that slow down response time.

“This allows us to gather accurate information quickly, dispatch responders faster, and provide more efficient emergency services to our communities,” BARMM 911 Satellite Command Center Head Espiridion Ganibe said in a statement.

Local responders also help identify landmarks and other terms used to describe local communities more quickly.

“Our emergency telecommunicators are familiar with the local communities, landmarks, and road networks, so they can quickly understand where help is needed,” Regional Command Center Head Willie M. Tan Jr. said.

Following the Mindanao centers, additional satellite command centers in Pampanga and Camarines Sur are scheduled to launch in the third quarter of the year, further advancing the platform as a nationwide emergency reporting system.

The Unified 911 system consolidates more than 200 local emergency hotlines into a single nationwide reporting system supported by voice calls, text messages, photos, and live video.

Over 5.2 million calls were recorded on the platform from January to April 2026, averaging more than one million calls per month, according to the DILG. — Almira Louise S. Martinez