SP OF LA UNION ENACTS ORDINANCE TO PENALIZE PRANK CALLS TO 911 HOTLINE
By: Sherrene Ostrea, GPC-SP; Jiroh Joy D. Marbella, GPC-SP | Photos By: La Union Rescue 911, PIO and SP | Date: June 4, 2024
As the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) continues to provide timely responses in emergencies, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of La Union passed on 3rd and final reading Provincial Ordinance No. 451-2024, also known as the Anti-Prank Calls Ordinance of the Province of La Union, on June 4, 2024, during the 101st Regular Session of the 23rd Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the Speaker Pro Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Legislative Buildings and Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The legislation was enacted to maintain the efficiency of the emergency hotline, which is critical during emergencies. As defined in the ordinance, prank calls are those that make false requests, report false alarms, convey false, hoax, or fraudulent information to deliberately cause confusion, inconvenience, distress, or panic; initiate unnecessary calls, such as calling without speaking and/or hanging up abruptly; and make mischievous or malicious calls to trick or fool the hotline operators with the intention to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass.
Violators of the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of Php 2,000.00 for the first offense or imprisonment of not more than one month; a fine of Php 3,000.00 for the second offense or imprisonment of not more than six months; and a fine of Php 5,000.00 for the third and succeeding offenses or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
According to the ordinance, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), in coordination with the La Union Police Provincial Office, shall be the lead agency in enforcing the ordinance’s provisions using the Provincial Ordinance Violation Receipt of the PGLU. Authorized and coordinated emergency drills, including those of emergency response agencies, educational institutions, local government units, offices, and businesses, are exempt from the ordinance.
The PDRRMO shall coordinate with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Telecommunications Commission to trace, analyze, and identify prank callers, with technical assistance provided as needed.
Board Member Gerard G. Ostrea, Chairperson of the SP Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety and the author of the ordinance, highlighted the urgency of passing the ordinance. He cited PDRRMO data indicating that from January to December 2022, the provincial Emergency Hotline 911 received a total of 55,893 calls, of which 1,005 were prank calls, 102 were legitimate calls, 44,033 were erroneous calls, 10,563 were dropped calls, and 41 were non-emergency calls.
He expressed, “We must take action to safeguard the safety of our residents and the integrity of our emergency response systems and guarantee that our emergency services can operate effectively and efficiently without obstacles through the passage of this legislation.”
Gov. Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” Ortega-David fully supports the Anti-Prank Calls Ordinance as PGLU remains dedicated to enacting policies and implementing initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall welfare of KaPROBINSYAnihan.
Related Photos:
