The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is encouraging Negrenses to call for emergency assistance through the revitalized 911 hotline in line with the Philippine National Police (PNP) 5-minute response time strategy.

Lt. Col. Joem Malong, NOCPPO deputy provincial director for administration, said on Thursday that instead of dialing the 11-digit hotline numbers of the component city and municipal police stations, those who need emergency response can dial 911 instead.

“We are advocating the 911 hotline as one of the fastest ways to reach our police stations,” she said.

Malong said the 5-minute response time is limited to calls for police assistance in the city or town centers, and in these instances, Negrense policemen would arrive in about 3 minutes.

“Three to five kilometers away from the city centers, it’s expected that our personnel should respond within 5 minutes. If beyond that, it’s understood that it could not be possible. However, the police should still respond at the soonest time possible,” she added.

On Tuesday, the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) conducted a focused inspection on the use of mobile patrol units and “Call 911” stickers, as well as issued bulletproof vests to police personnel.

Malong, who is also the PRO-NIR spokesperson, said the inspection covered several police stations and units in the region, including a thorough assessment focused on three key operational areas.

These include the condition and readiness of mobile patrol vehicles, the proper use and availability of bulletproof vests for personnel, and compliance with the 5-minute response policy initiative as indicated by standardized stickers.

On Wednesday afternoon, NOCPPO Director Col. Rainerio De Chavez led the simulation exercise of the 5-minute response time strategy with the 31 city and municipal police stations via Zoom from the NOCPPO headquarters in Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. here.

During the demonstration, personnel of the Valladolid and Pulupandan municipal police stations recorded a response time of about 2 minutes to a call for assistance at the border of the two localities in southern Negros.

De Chavez appealed for the cooperation of Negrenses by helping law enforcers fulfill their mandate of quickly responding to calls for police assistance.

“We ask for understanding from the community. When policemen respond, especially in high traffic areas, we ask them to give way because there are people who need help,” he said. (PNA)