Unified 911 System launched for faster emergency response

For many Filipinos who grew up in the ‘90s, the primetime series Rescue 911 on RPN 9 was their first glimpse of how a single emergency number could save lives. Hosted by William Shatner, the show dramatized real-life rescues and highlighted the effectiveness of America’s 911 system.

Decades later, that concept has finally taken root in the Philippines, where emergency response has long been hampered by a confusing web of hotlines, which often lead to inefficient emergency responses from authorities.

On September 11, 2025, the Philippine government took a decisive step forward with the official launch of the Unified 911 System at the PLDT Command Center in Sampaloc.