The 911 emergency call system will be officially used nationwide starting September 11. According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), it will replace more than 30 local hotlines that have long been used in various areas.
The country has long had a problem with different numbers, making it difficult for people to know who to call and slowing down response times. With 911, all calls for police, fire, ambulance, disaster response, and others will go through an integrated network connected to various government agencies.
The service is free, open 24/7, and available in Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Waray, Tausug, and other languages. The DILG targets a 5-minute response to each call. The new system also includes geolocation tools and the ability to live stream for faster action.
Its partial rollout was first launched in July 2025 in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Visayas, Bangsamoro, and several provinces around Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. With the new system, emergency services are expected to be faster, clearer, and more equitable for all Filipinos.
In 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the national number 911 to replace Patrol 117, and it began operating in 2020. Under the DILG, local governments were mandated to fund and operate their respective 911 centers.
