(Eagle News) — The Philippines has a new emergency hotline number.
This was after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 56 setting telephone number 911 as such.
According to the EO, this was because there was a need to comply with international standards on emergency numbers for public telecommunication networks.
The new hotline number replaces the Patrol 117 hotline network which President Duterte earlier launched.
All calls made to the 911 hotline will be free of charge.
The President also required all local government units to run local 911 call centers which will be under a National Call Center.
He said an Emergency 911 Commission–which will be chaired by the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government —will also be created to oversee and make policies.