Emergency Telephone Number 911 Replaces Patrol 117 Starting August 1

Starting August 1, 2016, the US-formatted emergency number “911” will now be operational in the Philippines. This a replacement of the existing Patrol “117” that has existed since 2003 and is managed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), referred to as the “Emergency Network Philippines (ENP).”

Original link: https://miniphilippines.wordpress.com/2016/07/30/emergency-telephone-number-911-replaces-patrol-117-starting-august-1/

Patrol 117 call centers nationwide have handled some 15 million calls since its inception. However, the majority of 117 calls are prank calls, leading the DILG to urge local government units to issue ordinances penalizing those who make hoax 117 calls.

Historically, 117 was solely used in the Metro Manila area by the Philippine National Police for the reporting of ongoing crimes as part of a program called the “Patrol 117 Street Patrol Program” in cooperation with the Foundation for Crime Prevention. Efforts to expand the capabilities of 117 began in the 1990s, starting with the addition of emergency medical services to the scope of 117 in Metro Manila through a private-sector initiative called Project EARnet (Emergency Assistance and Response network).

Government involvement in the expansion of 117’s scope began in late 1998, when the DILG announced the formation of Emergency Network Philippines, a project that sought to support a national emergency telephone number in order to enable the faster delivery of emergency services to the Filipino people.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 226, 117 became the official national emergency telephone number of the Philippines on July 14, 2003.

The P1.4 billion project was completed on August 2, 2003, with the opening of a new 117 call center in Quezon City, serving the entire Metro Manila area.[3] Four more 117 call centers were opened in 2006, and the full 117 network, consisting of sixteen networked call centers, was rolled out in 2007.

Sources of text and image: Wikipedia | LSGH ’81 Viber Group

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Resorts World Manila Employees Raises 1 Million Pesos

(Press Release 08 October 2015) – Resorts World Manila (RWM) President and CEO Kingson Sian, RWM Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly, other executives and employees, and various partners of the resort held a 6K Run for Charity and pledged cash donations, raising P1 million for the less fortunate children of Smokey Mountain, under the care and guidance of the Philippine Christian Foundation (PCF). RWM has been reaching out to the children of PCF, wherein volunteer employees provide valuable learning and fun entertainment for the kids by sharing their talents and skills in storytelling, arts, music and dancing, and handicraft making.

PCF is a charitable institution founded in 2002 which aims to relieve poverty for children and their families who are living and working in depressed areas like dump sites and squatter camps in cemeteries. During the fund raising event, PCF Executive Director Melissa Alipalo took turns with the children sharing their stories with the participants.

RWM is the first one-stop, non-stop entertainment and leisure destination in the Philippines that features recreational thrills, world-class performances, unique events, and exciting lifestyle options. It is home to three international lodging brands: Maxims Hotel, Marriott Hotel Manila, and Remington Hotel. RWM also hosts the Marriott Grand Ballroom, a three-story convention center housing the country’s largest hotel ballroom, and two more hotels – Sheraton Hotel Manila and Hilton Manila Hotel, both currently under construction. It also houses state-of-the-art movie theaters at Newport Cinemas, an award-winning Newport Performing Arts Theater, a cozy, 24/7 entertainment hub at Bar 360, and 50 restaurant outlets offering a diverse selection of local and world cuisine.

For more information, contact Archie Nicasio, Public Relations head of RWM via +63 (2) 836-0000 or go to www.rwmanila.com.

Source: RWM Press Release

Photos from RWM | RWM Facebook Page

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Largest Earthquake Drill in Metro Manila

On Thursday July 30, 10:30 AM, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA, with multi-sector cooperation from schools, business, government agencies, and religious organizations, will be conducting a metro-wide Earthquake Drill. The drill, called Metro Manila Shakedrill, will be the largest earthquake drill ever held in the province. It provides a measure of preparedness for a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the affected cities and will increase the metro’s chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of such earthquake.

In its website www.metromanilashakedrill.com, earthquake preparedness guide pamphlets are available in nine sectoral categories:

• Religious sector
• Commercial establishments and malls
• Business
• Schools
• Barangays and communities
• BPO firms
• Hospitals
• Government offices

There are no available URL or web links for the last two – hospitals and government offices.

There are also 17 videos to watch, most of which are recorded news clips from CNN Philippines.

Four areas for the business sector to assemble during an earthquake, called Business Area Recovery Convenors. The table below provides the information.

Organizations can also volunteer from its 8,000 strong Metro Manila Rescue Volunteer Coprs or MMRVC whose members or employees will be trained and activated for any earthquake response in Metro Manila. For more information on this, visit www.bepreparedmetromanila.com.

Lastly, “Safety Tips” posters in JPEG format can also be downloaded from the website.

Images from metromanilashakedrill.com.

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Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Launches Help for Typhoon Glenda Victims

We all learned our lessons from Typhoon Haiyan, but no amount of preparation could withstand the wrath of Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun).

In partnership with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation, Sofitel Manila mobilizes the entire Accor Hotels group in a unified effort to assist the victims of the recent devastation and deliver relief goods to the families affected by the typhoon.

Please send your CASH DONATIONS via bank deposit/transfer to:

Account Name: Philippine Plaza Holdings, Inc. /Sofitel Philippine Plaza
Address: CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Current Account No. 3131-0393-78
Bank of the Philippine Islands
BPI Building, Vito Cruz Corner Maytubig
Malate, Manila, Philippines

DONATIONS IN KIND such as food, water, medicine and clothing are accepted at the drop-off point in the hotel lobby.

We would like to thank you all for your generous support in our Super Typhoon Haiyan Donation Drive in 2013. We are looking forward to your kind assistance on this new fundraising campaign.

Please SHARE THIS to your network of friends and family.

Source: Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila Facebook Page.

Image from source.

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Globe’s Public Advisory for Typhoon Glenda

Globe Telecom announced that areas heavily affected by Typhoon Glenda also experienced service disruption due to commercial power outages. In its initial network assessment report mobile services were affected in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Quezon and Sorsogon.

Yoly Crisanto, Globe corporate communications head said that the company’s technical personnel are on ground to do immediate restoration of services. Cellsites are equipped with alternate power sources such as batteries and gensets in light of prolonged loss of commercial power. Several cellsite antennas have been reportedly damaged by the strong winds. However, no major infrastructure damage has been reported as of this time.

“Our onground technical team are continuously providing reports and doing site assessments for immediate service recovery,” Crisanto said. The telecommunications provider had earlier activated regional disaster teams in South Luzon, North Luzon and Metro Manila to also address relief operations and assistance.

Globe is also preparing to mobilize libreng tawag facilities and relief operations in the typhoon devastated areas. “We will start putting up libreng tawag centers and relief operations in the affected areas as soon as we get the go signal that it is safe to deploy people there,” Crisanto said.

Source: Globe Telecom Community Page.

Image from source.

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South Korea Gives Philippines 1,200-ton Coastal Defense Vessel

South Korea is the latest military benefactor to the Philippine Navy in modernizing the latter’s antiquated fleet especially against China, the bully of Southeast Asia. Korea is donating a 1,200-ton coastal defense vessel or Corvette soon. The United States already donated two coast guard cutters while Japan is in the process of donating 10 new patrol boats.

All these are showing China that the countries friendly to the Philippines will help the latter defend itself against the ongoing aggression China has shown in relation to its intent to take over a disputed area that involves other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam.

The Philippines already signed a deal with South Korea over the purchase of 12 Korean fighter aircrafts (FA-50s). In addition, there is a plan to buy close air support aircrafts or planes that protect soldiers on the ground.

Read more at The Wall Street Journal Blogs.

Photo from Defense Industry Daily.

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New York Broadway, Off-Broadway Singers Perform for Yolanda Victims

Playbill.com, the website of the monthly U.S. magazine for theatergoers, reports that a concert-event will be held on January 20, 2014, 9:00pm at Stage 72, the Triad in New York City. Entitled “An Evening of Music and Comedy: Disaster Relief for the Philippines,” the show will include performances from Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and New York City based comedians to raise awareness and much needed funds for the relief effort in the Philippines caused by typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda.

Performers include singers Erik Liberman (Lovemusik), J. Bernard Calloway (Memphis), Melissa Van Pelt, Vanessa Dawson, Steven M. Goldsmith, Chris Critelli, Eliza Hayes Maher, Alia Bisharat and The Manhattan Dolls and comedians Rick Younger, Chris Griggs, Aaron Friedman and Carrie Gravenson.

The show is produced by Vanessa Dawson and hosted by Chelsea Piers. Proceeds will benefit The Red Cross, and a live auction will be held at intermission.

Source: Playbill.com

Photo by Martin Dürrschnabel at wikimedia.org

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Maryland Sixth Graders Raise Funds for Yolanda or Haiyan Victims

It started with Kirsten Solloway, a 12-year old student of Elkridge Landing Middle School in Elkridge, Maryland. Having a Filipino as a stepfather, she learned of the devastation brought about by tyhpoon Haiyan or Yolanda in the Philippines and felt a personal connection to the tragedy. Together with her classmate and friend, Ryleigh Justice, they started a fund-raising drive last month by placing thirty decorated jars all around the school.

They raised more than $1,000 in 18 days which they donated to the American Red Cross.

That started the ball rolling as classrooms in the school competed with each other. Eventually, the school itself got involved and raised another $1,000.

Read entire story at Elkridge Patch.

Photo from Elkridge Landing Middle School.

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Resorts World Manila Concert for Benefit of Yolanda Victims

The Resorts World Newport Performing Arts Theater will be holding a benefit concert for the victims of typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan entitled “Voices for Visayas” on January 15 which will also be shown at the Madison Square Garden in New York during another benefit concert by apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas.

The artists to perform at the Resorts World concert include compose Ryan Cayabyab, writer Joey Reyes, Rachelle Gerodias, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, Leo Valdez, Audie Gemora, Jed Madela, Bituin Escalante, Pilita Corrales, Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez, Mitch Valdes, Karylle, Erik Santos, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Primo, Ballet Philippines, and Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company.

Proceeds will go to Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity.

Read more at Inquirer.net.

Photo by Ramon FVelasquez at wikimedia.org

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Staten Island Filipinos and Hilton Owners Stage Benefit

Looking west across Richmond Terrace at County Courthouse on a hazy late morning.

There are about 7,000 Filipinos living in Staten Island, New York and its community leaders have joined forces with the owners of the Hilton Garden Inn to hold a benefit event on January 15, 2014 to raise funds for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda. 100 percent of the proceeds from the free venue, food, beverages and service will go to the Archdiocese of New York’s “Relief from the Philippines” fund.

Various local celebrities will participate in the 7:00pm to 10:30pm Wednesday event. Tickets are priced at $75 for a buffet dinner and are sold at www.archny.org/relief or call (718) 477-2400 ex. 5.

Source: Staten Island Live.

Photo by Jim.henderson at wikipedia.org

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