RESIDENTS needing assistance will still have to utilize a temporary hotline number while Cagayan de Oro City is waiting for clearance for the use of its new 911 emergency hotline number, a city official said.
Verner Monsanto of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) said the public may call (088) 853-9393 for emergency purposes.
Monsanto, CDRRMD overseer, said the city will eventually launch the 911 hotline after getting the go signal from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Monsanto said it will also be using the Oro Computer-Aided Emergency Response Center system to accept all distress calls, which will be attended to by the Bureau of Fire Protection, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, and Oro Rescue.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno however pointed out that the CDRRMD and the whole city government has long been providing the same services that the 911 emergency is giving.
"Fixated lang atong huna-huna na 911 gyud pero the facility, the program, the service is already in place, the only difference is dili lang 911, kay naa pa tay gapaabuton na permiso from government authority, we hope mahatag kana in the next few weeks, and as soon as mahatag na, we will make the necessary announcement," he said.
"Pero the service is being provided now, naa nay serbisyo, the number does not matter, pero syempre target pa gihapon nato ang number nga 911," Moreno added.
The city will pattern its improved emergency response program after Davao City’s Central Communications and Emergency Response Center (Central 911).
Once this will be institutionalized, 911 calls will directly connect to the CDRRMD office, which is also the Operation Center.
All network operators, are partners with the City Government to ensure free services when a call will be made.