BCPO relaunches 911 hotline for faster response

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) formally reintroduced the 911 emergency hotline Thursday as part of efforts to improve police response and incident reporting across the Negros Island Region.

The launch was led by Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, together with Police Col. Eugene Rebadomia, BCPO director, barangay officials, stakeholders, and various law enforcement agencies at the BCPO headquarters.

Since assuming his post in the Negros Island Region last month, Cardiño has committed to strengthening regional security through the S.A.F.E. program, which stands for Seen, Appreciated, Felt, and Extraordinary.

He emphasized that the 911 emergency hotline is a key component in achieving the program’s objectives.

In his message, Cardiño said the initiative aims to bring government services closer to the people and make public safety more accessible to communities.

“The launch of S.A.F.E. NIR Dial 911 reflects our unwavering commitment to responsive, technology-driven, and people-centered policing,” he said.

Cardiño noted that the hotline will ensure that calls for assistance are promptly received and emergencies are immediately addressed, giving citizens greater confidence that help is available whenever needed.

He added that the program will enhance the police force’s ability to save lives, respond to critical incidents, and deliver faster and more efficient services throughout the region.

“Ang police willing mag respond pero ang incidents minsan hindi narereport,” Cardiño said, adding that police are waiting for reports to respond.

Thus, the regional police chief called on the public to cooperate, stressing that maintaining public safety is a shared responsibility.

“Kung meron kaming hindi makita in person, sana may makatawag sa amin to inform us kaya naisip ko itong programa na ito para sa mabilis na pag responde sa oras ng pangangailangan,” he said.

Cardiño commended the city government and the BCPO for taking proactive measures in supporting the regional initiative.

For his part, Rebadomia said the program is designed to make emergency response faster, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of the community.

“People should not have to remember a dozen hotline numbers. Dialing 911 is enough,” he said.

Rebadomia added that searching for the contact numbers of police stations, rescue units, or personnel is not enough for an emergency plan.

He described the hotline as more than just a communication tool, saying it serves as a promise that assistance is only a call away.

The BCPO has consistently encouraged residents to report incidents directly to the police rather than posting them on social media, enabling authorities to respond more quickly.

The National Police Commission-Negros Island Region and the city government, represented by Councilor Pao Sy, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Peace and Order, also expressed support for the initiative.

Sy said the program is a good example of what can be achieved if the police and the city government work hand in hand.

“The system works best when we work together,” she added, as she called on the public to support the initiative.

As part of the launch, law enforcement personnel released white and blue balloons and conducted a caravan around the city to raise public awareness about the emergency hotline.

Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Gasataya recently announced that the city is awaiting final clearance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the localized implementation of the Unified 911 Emergency Response System.

The program forms part of the Philippine National Police’s efforts to enhance emergency response capabilities across the region.