BFP praises seamless inter-agency collaboration, accuracy, cutting-edge technology and tools of Unified 911 system

“In the past we lacked a shared platform with the local government unit (LGU) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) so coordinating cross-agency assets like traffic control or city water tankers required tedious phone calls that created critical operational delays. But when the BFP switched to the UPCAD system in early 2026 dramatic operational and dispatch improvements happened. UPCAD transformed our workflow by replacing guesswork with precise, real-time data that significantly cuts down our turnout and response times. The platform automatically pins a caller's exact GPS location while allowing our dispatchers to receive live text, photos, and video feeds directly from the scene before the trucks even roll out. This instant situational awareness allows us to dynamically map out the fastest routes around urban traffic and deploy the exact specialized equipment needed the moment we arrive. Having a wide-coverage, unified network creates a single operational picture that bridges the gap between the BFP, the LGU and disaster response units like the CDRRMO. The moment an incident is logged, the LGU’s traffic and security forces are able to see the same data so we can immediately clear gridlocked roads, establish outer cordons, and prepare evacuation shelters ahead of time. This digital interoperability cuts out administrative red tape and allows us to request for heavy city machinery or asset support, directly through the platform, while actively fighting a fire. Upgrading to UPCAD is not just buying software; it is a vital investment in your city's survival. In public safety, every second spent navigating a communication blind spot or a traffic jam directly costs lives and millions in property damage. By bringing the BFP, LGU, and national emergency lines onto a single next-generation platform, you give your frontline responders the exact tools they need to make your community a resilient, data-driven smart city.” ~Jeramile C. Valdez, Fire Senior Inspector (FSINSP), Chief of Fire Communication Operations Section of the Quezon City Fire District

Command stations relied on voice-only radio frequencies prior to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) implementing the Unified Platform for Communications & Dispatch (UPCAD) system of Unified 911 for emergency response. These frequencies were hindered by poor signals, dead zones, and congested telephone lines.

Dispatchers relied on inaccurate, scared verbal descriptions from callers and were "completely blind" to what was actually happening at the emergency scene. The incidents' exact locations and the changing ground conditions were completely conjectural.

Before the BFP adopted the state-of-the-art communication tools and technology offered by Unified 911, Fire Senior Inspector (FSINSP) Jeramile C. Valdez, Chief of Fire Communication Operations Section of the Quezon City Fire District, described the BFP's emergency response operations as follows.

The Philippine government's next-generation mission-critical emergency response technology, UPCAD, connects local 911 call centers with field responders to enable real-time data exchange, multimedia communication, and precise geolocation tracking.

The head of BFP logistics praised UPCAD's distinctive seamless interagency cooperation and NGA 911 Philippines' cutting-edge technology for the Unified 911 system.

UPCAD acts as the dispatch engine and backend for public safety officials in addition to providing direct support for the current Emergency 911 National Hotline (which can be reached by dialing 911 toll-free). "Emergency calls are routed and dispatched to the nearest available first responders much faster by providing precise geolocation and streamlined data sharing," FSINSP Valdez informed LGU officials.

Important UPCAD emergency response features include unified command, which connects fire, police, and 911 departments into a single communication network; field technology, which provides first responders on the ground with robust, extremely durable smartphones, feature phones, and tablets; and improved coordination, which bridges voice collaboration, digital workflows, and mission-critical video to ensure that vital information is not lost during high-pressure crises or natural disasters.

The nationwide implementation of UPCAD, which transformed emergency response operations for the BFP, medical services, and LGUs, was carried out in January of last year by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, NGA Philippines, and PLDT.