Mayor Jejomar Binay said the 24-hour hotline was re-activated so that the city’s fire department and police force could respond quickly to cases needing their immediate help.
Binay said the re-activation and merging of hotline 168 and Helplines boost Makati’s capabilities to integrate and coordinate frontline public services for faster action and better results.
He said Makati 168 would concentrate on crime-related problems, accidents, fire and natural disasters like flooding, earthquake and soil erosion. "I am advising the residents to simply dial 168 if they want quick response in these areas," he said.
Meanwhile, the telephone numbers 896-8435, 896-3443, 896-3441 and 899-9068 can still be dialed by residents who request information, assistance or give tips about illegal activities like drug pushing and gambling, illegal possession of firearms, neighborhood quarrels, busted water pipes, open manholes, etc.
When an operator receives a call, she directly refers it to field coordinators of the Makati Action Center for verification. As soon as the coordinators confirm the details aired by the caller, they will directly handle the case until it is considered solved.
Binay said Makati 168 is manned 24 hours a day by 30 operators working in three shifts to ensure that the public will receive assistance round-the-clock.