Friday, June 24, 2011

Call 117 for all emergencies


MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo urged the public to call the emergency hotline ‘117’ if they need rescue services or in any kind of emergency cases, state media said.

117 is the emergency hotline of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as well as the government’s national emergency hotline number with call centers in all regions of the country.

Robredo said the public should immediately call the hotline number, especially at this time when many people are affected by the high floods and heavy downpour caused by the latest weather disturbance.

“All you have to do is dial our hotline number ‘117’ so that we can immediately dispatch our emergency and rescue units and coordinate with the local PNP, BFP, MMDA, DPWH and other concerned agencies to where you are and assist you,” he said.

Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council show that floods and rains affected 32,118 families or 166,708 people in 132 villages in 17 towns in Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal, Albay; and the cities of Makati, Malabon, Manila, Marikina, Quezon City, Taguig, and Valenzuela in Metro Manila.

Of the affected, 10,143 families or 48,712 people were evacuated to 23 evacuation centers in Albay, Rizal, Zambales and Metro Manila.

Last Thursday, thousands of commuters were stranded due to knee-high waters in many streets in Metro Manila while persons were reported missing in the provinces of Albay and Catanduanes.

Pre-school, elementary and secondary classes were also suspended Friday in at least three provinces and several localities in Luzon, as well as in several colleges and universities in Metro Manila.

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