Hotlines for Capitol-run hospitals, VSMMC soon

CEBU, Philippines - All the 16 district and provincial hospitals in Cebu and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center will soon have emergency hotline to immediately respond to any untoward incidents.

The Province of Cebu, Globe Telecom and Payvenue have signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement on the implementation of project, “Access Cebu”, during the Provincial Development Council meeting.

The project is said to be the first ever mobile info-service in the country for TM (Touch Mobile) and GHP (Globe Handy Phone) subscribers and is provided for free at the hospitals.

The project was primarily aimed at the existing and potential network users and enterprises in the Province of Cebu, the potential buyers, investors, product seekers or business people seeking access to the markets, its contact and other useful information.

It is also aimed at assisting the ordinary tourist wanting to know more of the sites, history and services provided in each and every component cities and municipalities simply through text.

“This will simplify things ang mga pangutana nila about the Province of Cebu will be answered via text,” said Cleo Alviso, Globe Telecom trade marketing specialist. All queries will be answered by texting ACCESS CEBU to 2278 AT P2.50 per text message.

The tragic incident in Barili town that claimed 12 lives last August prompted Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to use the same services for emergency response. 

Garcia said the MOA that they have signed will add capability to disaster response of the local government units and vital information can immediately be relayed and coordinated between the district hospitals and the VSMMC.

Alviso said that they will find hotline numbers that can easily be remembered and recalled by the public to be assigned to hospitals and try to make a cheaper cost for subscribers to send text messages.

VSMMC Director Gerardo Aquino said that the program will really help the whole province in terms of emergencies.

An operation center will be established at VSMMC where an officer will receive the messages and immediately inform and coordinate emergency response team in the place of incident.  (FREEMAN)