THE CEBU City government is eyeing to set up a centralized emergency response hot line using 911, Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña announced, with initial discussions already held with PLDT, Inc. as service provider. “We’re trying to integrate all our services into one number. They’re (PLDT) going to prepare a program for us,” Mr. Osmeña told reporters in a press conference Monday. The hot line, with calls to be monitored by the city’s Command Control Center with help from Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC), will cover services for police assistance, ambulance, fire, and other emergency situations. The mayor said the project has no allocated budget yet, but he intends to use the city’s disaster funds. The arrangement with PLDT, he added, will not be a partnership. “It’s not a partnership. We’re going to be just a customer… They will provide the services which we will pay. We don’t have to worry about maintenance,” he said. — The Freeman

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR