(Screengrab from the Quezon City Government Report on Helpline 122)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Quezon City government has further improved the services of ‘Helpline 122’ by streamlining the process through which the residents can efficiently access the local emergency hotline in times of need.
With the said service improvement, clients are only necessitated to press one of two numbers in the voice prompt upon dialing 1-2-2 and connect directly to the assigned call taker or operator.
Callers are instructed to press ‘1’ in the dial for emergency concerns and ‘2’ for other matters needing assistance such as inquiries about the programs of the city, complaints, feedback on the frontline services of the local government, reports of domestic violence, mental health issues, and COVID-19 related concerns.
In effect, City Mayor Joy Belmonte stressed the importance of listening to citizens and understanding their needs as a development practice that strengthens the relationship between the people and local government.
“Lalo pa nating pinaiksi at pinadali ‘yung proseso sa pagtawag sa ating Helpline 122 dahil batid natin na kapag emergency, kailangan mabilisan ‘yung aksyon. Bawat segundo ay mahalaga para maisalba ang buhay ng sinumang nasa panganib (We further made it easier for residents to contact our Helpline 122 because emergency entails a prompt response. Each second is of the essence to save a life at risk),” said Mayor Belmonte.
The streamlining adds to the integration of the three-minute response time policy of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in the helpline to ensure prompt delivery of emergency services.
On average, the city government responds to 890 calls per month. This report has been consolidated using the newly implemented ticketing system that tracks and monitors each call since March 2023.
To date, the local government is seeking to integrate a Mental Health hotline in Helpline 122 with the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation in an effort to provide comprehensive assistance to residents who are confronting mental health concerns. (QC PAISD/PIA-NCR)