The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday outlined its plans for 2026, highlighting efforts to enhance the efficiency of the Unified 911 System as the backbone of public safety.
In a message to the DILG family, Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said additional auxiliary assets will be procured to strengthen emergency response.
“This year, we will prioritize additional firetrucks, police vehicles, and emergency response assets to strengthen the Unified 911 system as investments in public safety,” he said.
The Unified 911 system was launched last September to consolidate emergency hotlines into a single central number and modernize emergency response.
It recorded a 97.92 percent efficiency rate for more than 2.4 million handled calls in November 2025 through its national call center in Manila and regional command center in Cebu.
Remulla reaffirmed the responsible and purposeful use of public funds following the signing of the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026, in line with President Marcos’ call for prudent fiscal management.
With the National Police Commission achieving zero backlog, the DILG is also considering video proceedings for cases involving police personnel to enhance transparency and due process.
As the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, the DILG committed to rigorous preparations as lead for the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meetings on Transnational Crime and the ASEAN Smart Cities Network.
Remulla also acknowledged DILG employees for their collective efforts, stressing that national policies are translated into local action through their commitment to public service.
“We will continue building a DILG that is trusted and effective—one that delivers good local governance, ensures public safety, and moves the country forward inclusively,” he said.
