Senator Win Gatchalian on Friday urged the local government units to actively participate in the implementation of the 911 emergency by the Philippine National Police.
Gatchalian also asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to craft a road map pushing a comprehensive coverage of the 911 emergency services in the country.
"This is a dream for all local government units in the country as well as for our constituents to have a singular emergency number that's easy to remember and to dial that will enable direct access to police, medics, firemen, and other local government services," he said in a statement.
Gatchalian stressed the need for a comprehensive emergency services system.
"Getting the call is one thing but responding to that call is most important. How fast can we respond from the time we get the call? That's the most important and we can only respond promptly if the local governments are involved in the 911 activity," he said.
The senator said the response time "needs to be shortened" to better serve constituents.
The Philippines should replicate the 11 emergency services provided in the United States, he added.
"That's an aspiration for all of us, especially in the realm of peace and order," he said.
DILG Undersecretary Lord Villanueva stated that the country's 911 services were only established in 22 local call centers—which were set up and funded by various LGUs—with 60,000 calls being received daily.