The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Foundation for Crime Prevention are riding the wave of the immense popularity of the short messaging service (SMS) in the country.
Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes said "Club 117" is an innovative program that empowers ordinary citizens to report crimes, fires, accidents and other emergencies via text or by calling the police hotline "117."
Club 117, Reyes added, will also keep people informed of developments in the area of law and order through text messages.
However, text messages sent to Club 117 are not free. Each message costs P2.50, with 70 percent of the fee going to the telephone service provider and 30 percent going to 117 for service charges, he said.
"This is our way of involving everyone, especially the youth, in the reporting and monitoring aspect of the national anti-crime campaign," Reyes said. "We are also continuously developing ways and means to maximize the technical capabilities of 117."
Reyes said anyone could become a member of Club 117 by sending an SMS to 117. Those without mobile phones may join Club 117 by filling up forms which they can download from the website www.fcp117.com.ph or by calling 889-5013.
Patrol 117 executive director Armi Borje said the program generally boosted the government’s crime prevention campaign.
"At least 1,000 persons have already signified interest (in joining) Club 117 and we expect an increase in number as the launching activities kicked off in Metro Manila and in the country’s key cities," FCP executive director Celerina Amores said.
Reyes said hotline 117 receives an average of four million calls each year, but he also said 99 percent of those calls were irrelevant or crank calls and only one percent or 42,000 calls were legitimate emergency calls.
"Of the 42,000 calls, 39,000 of them were addressed and attended to by our policemen," Reyes said. "We intend to come up with measures to minimize irrelevant calls, like ordering pizza."
Reyes also led the launching of the search for Heroes of Patrol 117, which will see the participation of the FCP, the Manila Jaycees and the Lamoiyan Corp.
This year’s search for the Heroes of Patrol 117 aims to give recognition to the unique and special contributions by certain units and individuals in saving lives during emergencies.