Telecom Companies OKs Hotline ‘117’

The telecommunications companies have agreed to allow the cellular phone subscribers in Cebu City to make a call to the police office for free when they need protection or during emergency situations.

The representatives of Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), Sun Cellular attended the meeting of the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) on Tuesday.

“They already approved in principle our request,” said PCAC presiding officer Eugene Elizalde when interviewed by MetroCebuNews after their closed-door meeting with the telecommunications officials at the Cebu City Hall.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)-7 Regional Director Jess Laureno who attended the PCAC meeting described the project as good and even asked the telecommunications companies to immediately work with the project.

“Dali ra kaayo na nila trabahoon,” said Laureno in a phone interview by MetroCebuNews.

The Police Coordinating Advisory Council had already requested the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to allow the City of Cebu to use the “117 hotline” for local emergency call in the city.

Even Laureno supports the suggestion that the Hotline 117 shall be the one to be used because its easy for the public to remember.

The project of PCAC is aimed to help prevent the commission of crimes with the people’s cooperation with the police because the community is one of the Five Pillars of the Criminal Justice System.