Prank, dropped calls overwhelm Baguio 911 run

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- Prank and dropped calls flooded call logs of the Baguio City Emergency 911 which piloted Oct. 12.
    This prompted Mayor Benjamin Magalong to urge users not to mess around with the line to avoid impeding legitimate calls especially urgent ones.
    “It is expected that people would want to test the line out of curiosity and it is fine as long as you signify that these are test calls.  However, if your intention is to jam the line, confuse or just play a trick to the responders, then please refrain from doing so,” the mayor appealed.
    Executive Assistant Felipe Puzon of the City Mayor’s Office who is overseeing the smart city command center said the Baguio 911 line had logged a total of 8,673 calls since it was granted the “go live” status last Oct. 12.
    Of the number, 3,907 were prank calls and 3,038 were dropped calls.
     Based on the command center’s daily journal, case-related calls totaled more than 600 including follow-up and feedback calls.
    Legitimate calls received dealt on medical emergencies, police assistance, vehicle accidents, crimes, nuisance, suicide cases and rescue assistance.
    Puzon said that following the grant of the go live status to the smart city command center by Emergency 911 National Executive Director Diosdado Valeroso, the city was able to work out the activation of the system with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) along with the integration of all emergency hotlines.
    Cross connection had been completed between PLDT and Smart Communications company so that all emergency calls made through Smart can now be received at Baguio 911.
    Similar arrangements are now in the works this time with Globe Telecommunications firm with the involvement of the Emergency 911 national office and the Dept. of Interior and Local Government.
    Mayor Magalong said with Baguio 911, residents will be able to access programs and services such as emergency response, disaster preparedness, smart mobility and transit and health care, which will be integrated through the Baguio in my Pocket (BIMP) application.