“We are expecting foreign tourist arrival to swell for our upcoming and famous celebration, the Saulog Festival on April 27 that will be highlighted by colorful street dancing and a ritual showdown competition. It is only fitting for Tagbilaran to welcome all its visitors and its residents into a city that can give them peace of mind because it can assure an efficient emergency response when needed, ensuring their safety is a priority for me. A well-coordinated and effective emergency response builds public confidence in what local authorities can do in the face of emergencies and calls for help. It is our duty to protect our constituents and all who visit our City. Peace and order and protection, these are the cornerstones of public service.” ~Mayor Jane Yap, Tagbilaran City Mayor
Bohol Island's capital, Tagbilaran City, also known as Friendship City and a popular tourist destination in the south, is now proud to be the "First City" in the province to use cutting-edge technology to transform its emergency response capabilities.
Using a contemporary emergency communication system modeled after and based in the United States, Tagbilaran community Mayor Jane Yap broke the good news of the 911 Emergency Hotline's activation for her community on April 25.
According to Mayor Yap, the port city, which is a major entry point for both passengers and freight, receives a significant number of visitors from Manila and other southern locations. According to recent statistics, under her direction, Tagbilaran City has experienced steady annual tourism growth of about 30% for the last three years, and its historical monuments, beaches, and natural features have made it a popular travel destination.
The Mayor and the City Council decided to upgrade Tagbilaran's emergency response system because they wanted to offer top-notch public safety to both residents and visitors. Additionally, it was a direct answer to the request made by Juanito Victor Remulla, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, that all local government entities strive toward a single emergency response system.
Mayor Yap commended the current administration and the DILG for their vision and sincere efforts to enhance public safety around the country. According to her, a single emergency response system will enhance coordination and communication, expedite decision-making, facilitate resource allocation, avoid effort duplication, lessen confusion, and provide emergency callers the quick response and easy access they need.
Now, Tagbilaran's emergency response command center can locate callers quickly and accurately, record all calls, interact with other systems and communication devices flawlessly, and guarantee nearly simultaneous, prompt arrival at the disaster scene. With its ability to interact with CCTV systems, employ data-driven analytics, detect and minimize spoof calls, and now be available through popular social media apps like Facebook and Messenger, "911" in Tagbilaran will be readily available, dependable, and simple for everyone to use.
This is a game changer for our City, studies show the safety of cities directly affects GDP. Safe cities attract more tourists and business investments. Our administration will continue to attack and reduce the crime rate in Tagbilaran. We will not stop until Tagbilaran becomes one of the safest cities in the Philippines.