Central 911 celebrates 20th founding anniversary

Central 911, the frontline office for emergency and disaster response of Davao City, conducted a thanksgiving mass – officiated by Fr. Emmanuel M. Gonzaga – for its 20th anniversary on Tuesday. The mass was attended by Central 911 officials and personnel.

The Local Communications and Response Division (also known as Central 911) on September 1, 2022 fully transitioned into a division of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. This is in line with Ordinance No. 0866-22 Series of 2022 “An Ordinance Updating the Organizational Structure of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Providing Funds Thereof, Subject to All Laws and Existing Legal Rules and Regulations.” The ordinance was approved last March 28, 2022.

CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran told the City Information Office that they are grateful for the support of the city to Central 911, now a division of CDRRMO, for 20 years.

“We are immensely grateful primarily to the City Government of Davao for the unwavering support it has given to Central 911 in deliberately addressing emergency response services, not only to the people of Davao City but to communities affected by any disaster,” he said.

Central 911 has provided Dabawenyos with a free emergency response system, hospital emergency care, rescue service, and fire suppression service in the past 20 years.

Baloran said that they are thankful and grateful as “Central 911 have pulled a commending job in the name of true public service, if not for genuine passion and commitment to people”.

Central 911 was formally launched on September 27, 2002, as a product of a collaborative undertaking between the Davao Light and Power Company and the City Government of Davao, in a bid to minimize the increasing crime incidents in the City.

Initially, Central 911 started as a street lighting project, which featured a Geographic Information System that aimed to improve the existing lighting facilities, as well as address the growing crime rate then. Eventually, Central 911 evolved into a centralized and integrated system that links the residents (needing assistance) to the nearest emergency responders.

Davao City Central 911 is now equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced resource equipment and tools, which are manned by highly trained and competent personnel from units that serve various emergency needs and concerns.

It takes pride as the first of its kind in Asia and third in the world after the United States and Canada. All the services of Central 911 are completely free of charge.

Central 911 is composed of the following operational units: Emergency Calls Answering Point and Dispatch (ECAP-D), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Fire Auxiliary Services (FAS), and K-9 Unit.

“We look forward to more years of fruitful services through Central 911. Let us continue to ask blessings and guidance that the Almighty protect and guide us, especially in responding to any emergency,” Baloran said. CIO