Telcos agree on free emergency mobile call service for Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - Telecommunication companies will allow cellular phone subscribers in Cebu City to make emergency calls free of charge.

Representatives of Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), Sun Cellular agreed in principle to provide the emergency service for free during a meeting with the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) yesterday.

“Approve in principle na ang atong request,” said PCAC presiding officer Eugene Elizalde.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) regional director Jess Laureno welcomed the initiative and encouraged the service providers to immediately work on it.

PCAC secretary Eli Espina said that PCAC has requested the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to allow Cebu City to use the three-digit emergency numbers 117 for local emergency calls in the city.

According to Espina, PCAC wants to use the 117 because it is easy to memorize.

Espina hopes that the project will help prevent the commission of crimes with the public's cooperation. — (FREEMAN)