The Philippines’ emergency response system could serve as a blueprint for similar services in Cambodia and Vietnam, as the US-based company behind the country’s Unified 911 system looks to expand its operations across Southeast Asia.
Next Generation Advanced (NGA) 911 said government officials from both countries had expressed interest in the Philippines’ experience in modernizing its emergency response system.
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Cambodia will send a government delegation, likely led by its deputy prime minister and other senior officials, to the Philippines within the next month to inspect its emergency call centers.
NGA 911 will also meet with Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security this week to discuss the ministry’s possible adoption of its technology.
‘We created a blueprint for the ASEAN region, and the Philippines is the first to have next-generation 911,’ said Ishka Villacisneros, president of NGA911 Philippines and chief financial officer at its parent company, NGA 911 LLC.
The Philippines is NGA 911’s first market in Southeast Asia, where it is implementing the National Unified 911 Project in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The rollout began in September 2025.
The Unified 911 system brings together emergency services previously handled through separate government hotlines. It also lets users report emergencies through messaging apps and even social media.
Robert Llaguno, country manager of NGA 911 Philippines, said the rollout was already 90 to 95 percent complete, with full implementation targeted before year-end.
AI in 911
Llaguno also noted growing public awareness of the service, with emergency call volumes rising by 15 to 20 percent from a historical average of around 24 million calls annually.
To further improve emergency response, the company is preparing additional artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, particularly to overcome language barriers in a country with numerous regional languages and dialects.
These include real-time translation and transcription, which could help operators communicate with callers speaking different Philippine languages.
Likewise, NGA 911 is developing AI-powered tools to guide dispatchers through established emergency response procedures. It also sees significant job opportunities as the system expands to more local government units nationwide.
NGA 911 cofounder Mike Amos said the system would require roughly one emergency call taker for every 20,000 people, pointing to substantial demand for trained personnel in a country of more than 110 million.
‘Every 911 call must get answered by a live agent. There is no substitute for a human being in 911,’ said NGA 911 LLC CEO Don Ferguson.
Emergency app
NGA 911 is also preparing to introduce a public safety application in the Philippines, according to Amos.
The app alerts users to nearby accidents, fires, and other safety threats, and lets family members stay informed and coordinate during emergencies.
Beyond personal safety, the application could also support law enforcement by giving authorities access to location-based incident data and analytics.
For instance, police could use the information to identify areas where crimes such as theft and carjacking frequently occur, including the times when these incidents are most prevalent.