PATROL 117 was officially launched last March 16, 2001 at Heroes Hall, Malacañang Palace with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Secretary Jose D. Lina, Jr. of the DILG and other members of the Streetwatch Commission. This expanded program involves the civilian sector aside from the regular responders and the likes a DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2001-54 was issued to all Local Government Units to initiate their own local program.

Malaybalay city has no existing plan or measures of sort until the memorandum was received and brought before the City Council for deliberation, eventually passed and approved appropriation for the program through the 20% development fund. A month before the soft launching, City Councilor Provo B. Antipasado, Jr. Council Chair of the Transportation and Communication Committee, was able to invite people with expertise in the fields of public safety, disaster management and communication to discuss ways and means to setup the program since there were no specific guidelines and plan on how to start PATROL 117. However, after several meetings, consultations, outsourcing, and hiring of personnel, the program is about to embark full swing.

Communication was vital for the program to succeed and REACT Kaamulan’s assistance in the installation of the communication network and the conduct of a half-day lecture/seminar for the 46 barangays was very effective, yet.

On August 1, 2001, Malaybalay city was able to answer the call and established the Malaybalay Action Coordination Center in which Patrol 117 is the center of communication, accommodating all kinds of emergency calls either through telephone or by radio. The City was the First to Install the Program Outside NCR which surprised the 117 Commission after learning that it was patterned with the Rescue 911 program of the United States of America to provide the public a center they can call in case of emergencies.

Initially, the Calling Center was housed at Barangay 6 multi-purpose hall, but due to its remote location then transferred to the present office at the second floor of the Malaybalay City Police Station, manned by 6 non-uniformed radio/telephone personnel called dispatchers on a round the clock shifting, 7 days a week. On its first year of operation, the center has a mobile radio and 2 telephone hotlines courtesy of SOTELCO and Philcom. The rising number of calls received daily was an indication that the people know how to use 117, forced the city to equip the center with additional communication equipment to include caller ID capable phone units. 

Regular updates and submission of reports to the city government and 117-Manila office were essential in order to closely monitor the program. Frequent coordination with other government agencies and NGOs made the center improve its performance.

On December 8, 2003, the city was conferred

 

Best Responder Outside NCR

and

Best Local Government Unit supporting PATROL 117 Awards.

This was given by Secretary Jose D. Lina, Jr. in Manila. Chief of Police Fidel D. Bolanio, Jr. of the Malaybalay City Police Station received the awards in behalf of the City Mayor and the people of Malaybalay City.

This year, the city government appropriated additional funding in the construction of a 2-storey building behind the city police station. It shall be fully operational before the year ends to better improve its response capabilities with the approved plan of organizing a comprehensive 24-hours rescue team stationed at the Malaybalay City Fire Station. The plan shall also include acquisition of state of the art rescue equipment and installation of an inclusive communication center.

To date, PATROL 117 has 28 Calling Centers nationwide and growing. This has proven that the program will stay with enduring commitment in serving our constituents in times of need.