911 calls

The government heard you, and now the Department of Interior and Local Government is drafting an executive order to make calls to both new emergency numbers 911 and 8888 free. Current statistics on the 117 hotline network show that 10% of the 3,500 calls the hotline receive every day are bogus. Both Globe Telecom and PLDT, mother company of Smart Communications, earlier got the ire of netizens when each announced to charge calls to the new 911 and 8888 numbers, citing current government mandates. In subsequent statements, both Globe and PLDT are willing to comply to making calls free when the government directs to. Both the 8888 and the 911 hotlines for complaints and emergency hotlines, respectively, are set to launch tomorrow, August 1. All plans include unlimited calls and texts to all networks plus landline, with higher-tier options offering free 12-month unlimited 5G access. Read more in our articles including "DILG: We promise 911, 8888 calls to be free" and "Google Year in Search 2025 for Philippines revealed".