Dial a friend in Quezon City

During one of my past trips to the US, I had a truly unforgettable memory which happened completely by accident. My aunt – whose Philippine home number just happened to begin with the numbers 9,1 and 1, – inadvertently called a team of first responders, who arrived in a matter of minutes.

While it was an accident (and thankfully, the rather handsome responders were such great sports), my teenage self was cringing from sheer embarrassment. Over time, however, I realized that my aunt’s gaffe was surely a common occurrence, and first responders are trained to deal with every situation as if it were indeed a life-or-death matter. This is but a small indication of their selflessness, discipline and countless hours of sacrifice to make sure that they are there at a moment’s notice when people need them the most.

While numerous TV series have dramatized the lives of emergency hotline responders, the small screen can never approximate the real-life comfort and sense of security that people feel, knowing that help is three digits away. I say this as a longtime resident of Quezon City, whose QC 122 hotline is a great source of ease for every QCitizen.

According to QC’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), QC 122 is the first fully operational three-digit emergency hotline in a Metro Manila local government unit (LGU). This was made possible by the Radio Communications Service under the Office of the City Mayor, through City Ordinance SP 2029-2010.

“Our emergency hotline is one of the services that binds our holistic and all-hazard approach to disaster risk reduction, covering the full range of potential hazards and their interconnections,” explained Secretary RJ Belmonte, QC DRRMO’s officer in charge.

“This involves understanding the root causes of disasters and emergencies, addressing vulnerabilities, promoting resilience in communities and systems and, of course, responding immediately when the need arises,” he added.

Accordingly, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and Bureau of Fire Protection (QCBFP) are fully integrated into the 122 helpline system, which has a three-minute response time policy. I know, I know… a lot of you read that last sentence with some incredulity. I myself was a little bit skeptical, until QCPD Chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III demonstrated this right before my eyes. He asked me to pick random spots across the city and, to my surprise, the response time in each instance was actually under three minutes.

By allowing me to experience this first hand, Chief Torre not only reinforced my feeling of safety, but once again made me proud to be part of an LGU that genuinely values good governance and responsibility to its constituents.

“This is the very spirit behind Mayor Joy’s 14-point agenda: listening to our citizens, understanding their needs and providing comprehensive solutions to address these concerns,” noted DRRMO’s Belmonte.

“Together with other components of our local government, Chief Torre has done an exceptional job to ensure that QC’s brave men and women in uniform are only three keypad clicks away,” he further said.

As far as emergency provisions are concerned, there’s an old saying that goes: “It’s better to have it, and not need it; than to need it, and not have it.” Considering the depth, complexity and sheer magnitude of running the most populous city in the entire Philippines, QC 122 is once again a reminder that Mayor Joy Belmonte’s administration has left no stone unturned. It’s something that the city definitely needs, and thankfully, an efficient service that we have.