The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced Tuesday that the country’s upgraded Unified 911 system can now detect and screen AI-generated and automated prank calls, enabling operators to prioritize real emergencies.
Emergency 911 National Office Executive Director Francis Fajardo said the modernized system is capable of identifying patterns linked to AI-generated calls and robo-dialing often used for false reports.
“May nakarating sa akin na nag-report na AI-generated. Ngayon, sa Unified 911 with our modernized system, nafi-filter natin ‘yang mga robo-calls at AI-generated,’’ Fajardo said.
“Meron kasi tayo sa system natin na nava-validate natin kung ‘yan ay AI-generated. Sa system, nakikita na natin ‘yan,’’ he added.
Data from the National Call Center showed that prank and abandoned calls have dropped by 98.3% since the system upgrade in September 2025.
However, the DILG noted that suspicious and non-emergency calls still consume critical resources and may delay response times.
To address this, the system now tracks numbers that repeatedly make questionable calls.
“To protect the hotline’s capacity, the system now tracks numbers that repeatedly place suspicious or non-emergency calls. Numbers that show a pattern of prank reporting are automatically assigned lower priority, allowing operators to prioritize verified emergencies,’’ the DILG said.
The agency reminded the public to use the 911 hotline responsibly, warning that unnecessary calls could delay assistance for those in urgent need.
“Iwasan na po natin tumawag kung hindi naman emergency. By the time na kayo na ang mangailangan ng tulong, baka hindi kayo agad masagot,’’ Fajardo emphasized.
The DILG reiterated that Unified 911 is strictly for emergencies and urged citizens to help ensure faster response for those in life-threatening situations.