MANILA, Philippines - Subscribers calling the 911 emergency hotline have to pay an additional P5 per call on top of the regular voice rates charged by Globe Telecom. The telecommunications giant announced on Wednesday, July 27 that the government suggested to charge calls to discourage prank calls.
"As suggested by the government to discourage prank calls, we would also like to inform our customers that those calling the hotlines will incur regular voice charges plus an additional P5/call for those calling the 911 hotline,” Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said in a statement.Globe Telecom announced on Wednesday, July 27 that the government suggested to charge calls to discourage prank calls.
Beginning August 1, emergency hotline 911 and 24-hour complaint hotline 8888 will go live in the Philippines.
“Globe Telecom is ready to transmit voice calls for emergency hotline 911 and complaint hotline 8888 on August 1, as directed by the government. We are also expediting migration of our system to immediately enable transmission of SMS or text messages thru 8888 and we are confident that we will be able to achieve this target within the timeframe of 30-45 days given to us by the government,” the statement read.
During his campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte promised to replicate the 911 hotline implemented in Davao City to ensure the fast response of police, medical personnel and firefighters during emergencies. The emergency hotline, which replaced the Patrol 117 emergency hotline, will link to the Nationwide Emergency Response Center.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens can call the complaints hotline to report corrupt officials, unfinished government projects as well as underperforming government personnel. This 24-hour service would be run by officials of the Presidential Action Center (PACE).
Since its launch in 2002, Davao City’s Central Communications and Emergency Response Center (Central 911) has received more than half a million emergency calls. Aside from Davao City, Kidapawan City also uses 911 as the number to be dialled in emergency cases.
--Mini, The Summit Express
"As suggested by the government to discourage prank calls, we would also like to inform our customers that those calling the hotlines will incur regular voice charges plus an additional P5/call for those calling the 911 hotline,” Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said in a statement.Globe Telecom announced on Wednesday, July 27 that the government suggested to charge calls to discourage prank calls.
Beginning August 1, emergency hotline 911 and 24-hour complaint hotline 8888 will go live in the Philippines.
“Globe Telecom is ready to transmit voice calls for emergency hotline 911 and complaint hotline 8888 on August 1, as directed by the government. We are also expediting migration of our system to immediately enable transmission of SMS or text messages thru 8888 and we are confident that we will be able to achieve this target within the timeframe of 30-45 days given to us by the government,” the statement read.
During his campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte promised to replicate the 911 hotline implemented in Davao City to ensure the fast response of police, medical personnel and firefighters during emergencies. The emergency hotline, which replaced the Patrol 117 emergency hotline, will link to the Nationwide Emergency Response Center.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens can call the complaints hotline to report corrupt officials, unfinished government projects as well as underperforming government personnel. This 24-hour service would be run by officials of the Presidential Action Center (PACE).
Since its launch in 2002, Davao City’s Central Communications and Emergency Response Center (Central 911) has received more than half a million emergency calls. Aside from Davao City, Kidapawan City also uses 911 as the number to be dialled in emergency cases.
--Mini, The Summit Express
