Cebu City eyes ‘Help Box’ alert system

Local

CEBU CITY residents may soon call for help with the push of a button.

This after the city government plans to install emergency “Help Box” devices in public areas to support quicker police response.

Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. announced Tuesday, July 8, that the city government is studying the rollout of a city-wide Help Box system, a wireless emergency alert device that would directly link the public to nearby police stations.

The plan was discussed during a courtesy visit by Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Colonel Enrico Figueroa, who met with Archival to strengthen collaboration between the local police and City Hall.

With just a single press, the Help Box will immediately alert police, enabling them to respond to emergencies within five minutes.

The mayor also pledged support for police infrastructure and mobility needs, stating that law enforcement must be properly equipped to respond quickly.

The initiative supports the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) five-minute response time directive, which CCPO has reportedly been meeting or exceeding in recent incidents.

“Kaning five-minute response time, this requires your participation as well,” said CCPO Deputy Director for Operations Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay during a media forum earlier this week.

“If a crime has happened in front of you and no one among those who were there and saw it reported that to the authorities, of course, no one will respond,” she added.

Macatangay said CCPO personnel have responded in under three minutes in recent simulations and actual emergencies.

She emphasized that public safety is a shared responsibility.

“It is not just the concern of the police. It is everyone’s concern,” she said.(TGP)