Cebu City scraps local 911

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has stepped up its campaign to make emergency contact information more accessible by posting tarpaulins with hotline numbers in public schools, but the initiative notably excludes its former 911 system.

Mayor Nestor Archival and Councilor David Tumulak, who chairs the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, recently led the installation of hotline posters at Ramon Duterte National High School and Lahug Elementary School.

The move, they said, underscores the city’s commitment to student safety and its broader vision of a Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Cebu by 2035.

The hotline numbers–landline 266 6317 and mobile numbers 0932 537 7770 and 0917 839 9896–are now prominently displayed on school premises.

Archival emphasized that visible postings serve as both a reminder and a safeguard, ensuring that help is within reach and reinforcing the shared responsibility of the school community in maintaining safety.

Tumulak confirmed that the city’s own 911 system is “no longer existing.”

 “Wala naman tay 911,” he said in an interview with The Freeman.

Tumulak explained that while the national 911 hotline remains operational, calls are routed first to the central office in Manila before being relayed to local government units, often resulting in delays.

“Ang facility (of the city’s 911) naa sa 2nd floor, mao ni gigamit nato sa command center sa emergency hotline, attached also ato communication center sa mga barangay responders and some other agencies. Ang 911 maoy wala na,” he added.

Earlier this year, some of the city’s postings still carried 911 alongside other hotline numbers.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) also continues to display infographics online that include 911 for emergencies, though these are accompanied by different hotline numbers specific to police stations and divisions.

The city’s localized 911 initiative dates back to the administration of then mayor Michael Rama, who introduced the system in response to complaints about slow turnaround times when calls were processed in Manila.

The command center itself was established during the term of former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.

Councilor Jaypee Labella, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), recalled in a separate interview that the system was plagued by technical and administrative issues, including misrouted calls, one directed to a pizza delivery, and incomplete documentation that stalled payments to the contractor.

“I don’t know if nabayaran ba na siya… mao gyud nay pinaka dakong issue ana before,” Labella admitted, adding that he was unsure whether financial obligations had been settled.

City Treasurer Emma Villarete told The Freeman she still has to check whether payments to the contractor have already been settled.

Another source said that the current administration of Archival is discontinuing the system due to its operational costs.

In October 2025, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) inaugurated the first Unified 911 Regional Command Center in Cebu City, designed to serve the entire Visayas.

The launch was led by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who declared, “Today, we have one number: 911. It’s not about just the number. It is about being Filipino. Being Filipino means that we all respect each other.”

He emphasized that the regional center ensures language sensitive service, with calls answered in Visayan to guarantee accessibility for local residents. The hub integrates the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and disaster offices, and is powered by Next Generation Advanced technology capable of geolocation and multi ring call response.

Archival was among the local officials present during the launch, alongside Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Lapu Lapu Congressman Junard Chan, and other Visayan leaders.

Despite Cebu City hosting the regional hub, its earlier private 911 system had not been integrated, leaving the city reliant on its own hotlines.

Labella said the integration of Cebu City’s system into the DILG hub should have been pursued, stressing that such a move would unify response mechanisms and reduce confusion.

He added that barangays, being the first responders, already maintain their own 911 hotlines.

“It should be a concern of the disaster office, the peace and order committee, and the mayor himself,” Labella said, noting that the discretion ultimately lies with the city’s chief executive. – MRM (CEBU NEWS)