A MOBILE emergency app will soon be launched to modernize the city’s emergency response and address geographical challenges for a faster and more efficient dispatch, a lawmaker said Tuesday.
Councilor Bonz Andrei Militar said the IT department of Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) is conducting finalization works before the app goes live.
“Through the app, they can call Central 911, and geo-tagged para pagpangayo nimo og tabang naa nay mo-guide for first aid and mas paspas ang response (when you ask for help, there’s already someone who will guide you on first aid, so the response is quicker),” Militar told reporters after the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyo on Tuesday, April 21.
“At the same time, the responders can ask for a photo or a video to validate whether or not the emergency is real,” he added.
The mobile application is among the components of the Davao Smart Emergency Response and Locator-Computer-Aided Response and Emergency Dispatch (SERAL-CARED) system, approved by the City Council in November 2025.
Militar said the system includes a GPS-based caller location tracking, integrated into the 911 system for real-time location display.
“The application, which will be accessible to Davaoeños, will have emergency alerts, GPS-based auto-location, image/video upload, and messaging,” he said.
The application will incorporate a Barangay Geo-Tagging Registry, comprising a detailed digital inventory of interior paths, structures, and landmarks.
“For example, if someone calls for an emergency through the app, it will pinpoint your specific area where you are calling, which will guide the responders,” he said.
The geo-tagging feature will re-route responders and emergency vehicles if they encounter accidents on the road or heavy traffic, for a speedier response.
The SERAL-CARED system also features a filter to detect prank or hoax emergency calls, intentionally sending false GPS signals or fake incident reports, which misallocate public safety resources.
“We are penalizing prank callers, and this system will filter prank calls and block the call within the day so they wouldn’t be able to (cause trouble anymore),” he said.
Individuals who abuse the app will be subject to penalties from P2,000 to P5,000, including community service, and/or imprisonment.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) handles an average of 4,000 calls daily, but only about half are considered legitimate emergencies.
The city government is fast-tracking the application to prevent call traffic for the Central 911, which is experiencing rerouting glitches, such as local emergency calls being received in the national system.
