Davao Central 911 to block prank callers

DAVAO CITY – The Davao Central 911 yesterday warned that it would block the telephone numbers of prank callers from its database.

The warning was issued after the Central 911 received 63,644 prank calls, or 37.46 percent of the total 169,865 calls received last year.

“We have measures to control the phone numbers that are in our database. We will block these numbers if they continue making prank calls,” Davao Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon said.

He said that many of the legitimate reports that they received last year were either repeat calls or inquiries on accidents,. but he discouraged these kinds of calls and instead urged them to report on emergency and life-threatening situations.

“Prank calls clog Central 911’s network and make it difficult for its call center to actually receive legitimate emergency calls,” Jaldon said.

He said that Central 911 call center will block the callers after making five prank calls.

He lamented that that non-emergency calls may affect the operation of the Central 911 to respond efficiently to legitimate emergency situations.

The Central 911 chief classified nonemergency calls as inquiries about the locations of emergencies and accidents, traffic jams, test calls and drills done by offices, and complaints on noisy neighborhood.

He said that he will no longer propose to the City Council to come up with an ordinance punishing prank callers here but he leaves it to Congress to create a measure to control the number of prank calls after 911 hotline became available nationwide in August 2016.

He said callers must be prompt, clear, and direct when reporting to Central 911. (Antonio L. Colina IV)