SAFE NIR 911 calls rise 30% after launch

By Glazyl M. Jopson

TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental — Calls to the SAFE Negros Island Region 911 hotline have increased by 30% since its rollout last week, according to Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting regional director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.

Cardiño disclosed the development during the provincewide launch of the program in Negros Occidental, which was hosted by Talisay City on Friday.

“The increase in calls indicates that our program is successful,” Cardiño said in a media interview.

He said the increase showed that the hotline has gained wider public awareness, a positive development in the government’s goal of providing faster emergency response services.

To ensure operational readiness, Cardiño said he has directed the operations officer to conduct simulation exercises.

The drills aim to assess the preparedness of personnel and response teams, emphasizing that emergency response should go beyond merely meeting the previously targeted five-minute police response time.

He added that the simulations will help determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire emergency response system under the newly launched SAFE NIR 911 program.

SAFE stands for Seen, Appreciated, Felt and Extraordinary.

In his message during the launch, Cardiño said the program is not merely a hotline or a communication platform, but a symbol of their commitment to be present when people need them most.

“Every emergency call represents a story. It may come from a mother seeking help for her child, a victim crying for protection, or a community facing danger,” he said.

Through SAFE NIR Dial 911, Cardiño said no call for help should go unanswered and no citizen should ever feel alone in times of crisis.

The program embodies the kind of policing they aspire to achieve, he said.

“We are not simply establishing systems; we are building trust. We are not merely introducing technology; we are creating stronger connections between the police and the communities we serve,” Cardiño said.

He stressed that their mission extends beyond answering emergencies.

“Our mission is to make every Negrense feel that their police are always ready, always responsive, and always within reach,” he said.

“Together, let us build a region where safety is not just promised but experienced, where trust is not merely requested but earned, and where service is not simply delivered but genuinely felt,” he said.

Police Col. Dennis Wenceslao, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the program underscores their strong commitment to bringing police closer to communities.

He said they aim to ensure faster coordination and efficient response during emergencies while making communities feel the presence and care of the police and the government.

“Sa simpleng mensahe-isang tawag, may agarang tutugon,” he said, adding that the program is about trust, unity and commitment to ensuring peace and order in the province.

Councilor Kenn Thomas Tirthfas, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Public Safety and Peace and Order, represented Mayor Rowena Lizares and said the launch marked another milestone in their shared commitment to public safety and responsive governance.

Tirthfas said in his message that the program demonstrated the police’s dedication to providing faster, more accessible and efficient emergency services to the people.

“It represents the vision for every citizen to feel protected, valued, with an assurance that help is only a phone call away,” he added.

He noted that the program also strengthens the government’s ability to respond quickly and reinforce trust between government institutions and communities.

He stressed that public safety is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation and partnership.

“When we work together, we create safe neighborhoods and stronger communities,” he said.

He commended the local police for bringing these services closer to the people and committed to vigilance, cooperation and community service.

Cardiño also led the release of white and blue balloons, signifying their unified goal of a peaceful and orderly province through the program.

A motorcade followed to reach the public and inform them about the program.

The program was first launched at the Bacolod City Police Office on June 4, led by Police Col. Eugene Rebadomia, city director.

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region was activated in 2025 as the Philippine National Police’s 18th regional office to strengthen security and governance in the newly established region.