THE 21ST City Council approved on Tuesday the Davao Smart Emergency Response and Locator-Computer-Aided Response and Emergency Dispatch (SERAL-CARED) system.
The SERAL-CARED features GPS and geo-location for faster and efficient dispatch, including tracking the location of callers.
The proponent, Councilor Bonz Andre Militar, said the measure will modernize the city’s emergency response and address geographical challenges. The components of the system include GPS-based caller location tracking, integrated into the 911 system for real-time location display.
A geospatial mapping of barangays will be included, to identify its access roads, high-risk areas, and informal settlements.
It will also incorporate a Barangay Geo-Tagging Registry, which will be composed of a detailed digital inventory of interior paths, structures, and landmarks.
The system will have a mobile emergency application that can be accessed by the citizens which will have features for emergency alerts, GPS-based auto-location, image/video upload, and
silent messaging.
To monitor real-time location of ambulances, fire trucks, and field personnel, the system will have a responder GPS tracking.
Militar, the committee chair on information technology said the measure will include penalties for misuse of the system so as to prevent delays of service and waste of resources.
Individuals who misuse SERAL-CARED will be subject to penalties from a written warning and mandatory attendance in a digital citizenship or public safety orientation program for first offense.
For the second offense, they will be fined ₱2,000 fine or eight hours of community service related to emergency response education; and ₱5,000 fine and/or imprisonment of up to 30 days at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
The prohibited acts include making prank or hoax emergency calls intentionally sending false GPS signals or fake incident reports through the app unauthorized tampering, hacking, or accessing the system; using the app to harass, defraud, or cause undue alarm to responders or the public; and repeated non-emergency use of the app that disrupts operations or misallocates public safety resources.
Photo courtesy of Konsehal Bonz Military FB page
