NGA 911 Briefs Metro Manila Council on Advanced, Next-Gen Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness in LA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Next Generation Advanced (NGA) 911 -- an IP-based emergency communications system that transforms crisis response through technology, integration and real-time reporting -- presented the future of public safety and emergency response to a delegation of the Metro Manila Council and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) at an educational tour in Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles California recently.

NGA’s Chief Executive Officer Don Ferguson and Chief Financial Officer Ishka Villacisneros welcomed the local government executives in LA and briefed them on NGA’s mission to enhance public safety and emergency response, letting them know that NGA, their technology and systems are already available, and infrastructure built in the Philippines.

The presentation included a demonstration of how the advanced system performs in various emergency response situations. Simulations of actual crisis situations where NGA 911’s next generation technology developed by the company in LA were highlighted.

“NGA 911 provides cities and communities in the US and other countries with peace of mind through our advanced and next generation emergency response systems. We are happy to announce that this next-generation 911 technology is now in the Philippines and we are looking to save more lives and empower more communities by unifying all systems in the future,” said Ferguson.

NGA 911 has ongoing deployments in Rizal, Pangasinan and Cagayan De Oro regions. These LGUs are now ready to provide the next-generation digital technology for emergency communication and public safety services that is used in the United States.

“We are partnering with NGA 911 to equip our public safety officers with a system that will enable them to provide immediate emergency assistance and help us adapt to the ever changing landscape of public safety,” Morong Mayor Sidney Soriano had said at the announcement of their LGU’s partnership with NGA 911 in April 2023.

Among the Metro Manila mayors present in the event were San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, Mayor Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon, Mayor Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Mayor Ike Ponce of Pateros, Vice Mayor April Aguilar Nery of Las Piñas, together with CDRRMMO officers and MMDA official led by Usec. Frisco San Juan, Atty. Vic Trinidad, and Atty. Cris Saruca.

The NGA presentation was part of the educational tour of the Philippine delegation on Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Response in the US that also coincided with the Manila International Film Festival itinerary organized by the MMDA in Los Angeles, California.

As part of the educational trip, NGA facilitated a Los Angeles City Hall tour for the Metro Manila mayors who had the opportunity to interact and talk with the City of Los Angeles Deputy Mayors and city officials.

Morong, Rizal is first LGU to use Next Generation 911 Emergency Communication System

Morong, Rizal, 24 April 2023 -- Citizens of Morong, Rizal will now find it easy to call for help and expect instant response from their local government during disasters and other types of emergencies.

Mayor Sidney B. Soriano, Vice Mayor Jose Fred Feliciano, Jr., and other key municipal officials signed an agreement on April 24, 2023 with Next Generation Advanced 911 (NGA 911) that made Morong the first LGU to use advanced, next-generation digital technology for emergency communication and public safety services.

The second-class municipality with over 70,000 residents has assigned NGA - Philippines, a local subsidiary of NGA, a multinational corporation headquartered in California USA, to provide Morong with complete solutions that will enable the LGU to respond to emergencies, save lives and secure property in the fastest possible time.

Known globally as the innovator of the emergency calling technology, NGA is the leader in Next Generation 911 emergency communications. NGA provides an advanced emergency communications system that can provide faster and more accurate emergency responses to people in need. This system is critical in times of crisis, where time is of the essence, and accurate information can be the difference between life and death.

This technology is used in the United States, and it has proven to be a game-changer in emergency communications. The system uses internet protocol (IP) technology to transmit voice, text, and video messages between callers and emergency responders. It can also provide real-time data on the location and condition of callers, which can help first responders make more informed decisions in emergency situations. This is the only true cloud-based NG 9-1-1 solution operating on the Amazon Web Service (AWS) Cloud platform uses a robust and resilient Internet Protocol (IP) backbone that will replace the decades-old 911 infrastructure and turn emergency communication into Next Generation 911.

The digital-led system will enhance the LGU’s response capabilities with faster reaction time, accurate location tracking, consolidation of communication channels, call routing, collaboration and mapping and thus help save Morong residents’ lives,” said NGA Philippines Country Manager Robert Andrew Llaguno.

“Its IoT (internet of things) capabilities allows interaction beyond regular devices like smart phones, desktops and gadgets. It allows seamless integration with public safety technology and systems like CCTVs, two-way radio, and social media apps to provide front liners with valuable information, resulting to better situational awareness and quicker, more efficient response.”

Llaguno added that the system gathers information and stores everything in an unlimited fully-recorded environment complete with audit trail, dashboards, and logs. The data is secured by NGA 911’s international standards-compliant Next Generation and Cybersecurity capabilities and helps the LGU improve the speed and quality of its response.

Even the hearing-impaired can make efficient use of the system, Llaguno said. A Real Time Text (RTT) feature makes it easy for both callers and call receivers to report incidents, so those in danger need not do voice calls to report a crime, accident or emergency, making them feel safe and more secure in challenging situations.

While Morong, Rizal already has an Operations Center in place, the municipality’s current system will benefit from the advanced technology that will make coordination and response to emergencies at the soonest possible time.

“We are partnering with NGA 911 to equip our public safety officers with a system that will enable them to provide immediate emergency assistance and help us adapt to the ever-changing landscape of public safety. Quick response is valuable because the equivalent of every second can be life or death. Whether the emergency is medical, fire, crime or accident, we need to provide fast and effective response. The NGA 911 Call Handling System will let us respond faster and more efficiently. Finally, our constituents are going to get the peace of mind they deserve,” noted Mayor Soriano.

Mayor Soriano enjoined other LGUs to prioritize public safety and follow suit. “We set an example here today for other municipalities and cities to follow. Let’s prioritize public safety and invest in the future of our communities.”

“The implementation of NG911 technology in the Philippines could significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response systems in the country. We are using Next Generation 911 Technology currently being implemented across the United States. With Mr. Soriano’s leadership and support, we are confident that we can make this a reality and provide better emergency services to the Filipinos.” said Ishka Villacisneros, Chief Financial Officer of NGA in the United States.

At the contract signing, Mr. Llaguno briefed guests on the features and interface of the groundbreaking technology and demonstrated how the system works and delivers on its promise.

For more information, visit facebook.com/nga911ph and nga911.ph.

Holcim Supports Three Rizal Municipalities in Waste Management

Binangonan Mayor Cesar Ynares (fourth from left) and Geocycle Account Officer Dia Cruz (fifth) during the signing ceremony for the waste management partnership with the municipality on Aug. 31 

Leading cement maker Holcim Philippines, Inc. and its waste management unit Geoycle will help the municipalities of Binangonan, Cainta, and Taytay in Rizal sustainably manage their municipal wastes by converting these materials to low-carbon fuels in making cement.

Holcim Philippines sealed the partnership with the leaders of the municipal governments on different dates in August. The three municipalities will send to Holcim’s Bulacan plant non-hazardous and non-recyclable residual wastes such as plastics, laminates, textiles, and rubber for pre- and co-processing. Holcim will receive up to 650 tons of such materials annually.

The Company will also extend technical assistance and training on waste segregation to the municipalities to ensure a sustainable solution to their waste management woes. The partnership will help the municipalities reduce the wastes sent to landfills and expenses related to this.  

Holcim Philippines supports 28 municipalities and cities throughout the Philippines in waste management with 18 added this year. In 2021, the Company co-processed sorted municipal solid waste equivalent to the annual output of 17,500 households, helping local governments divert these away from landfills.

Holcim Philippines Head of Geocycle Jon Alan Cuyno: “We are thankful to the local governments of Binangonan, Cainta, and Taytay, for their trust in our ability to provide a safe and environmentally-sound waste management solution. We need more innovative and solutions-driven local executives who want to convert their increasing waste management challenges into opportunities for a greener community.  We need them to rethink waste and replace conventional waste management practices with newer, more sustainable ones.”

Co-processing is a government-approved and globally-recognized waste management technology that repurposes non-recyclable qualified discarded materials from various industries into alternative low-carbon fuels and raw materials used in cement kilns. Among the environmental advantages of co-processing are the extremely high temperatures of kiln and longer treatment time materials that prevent formation of harmful gasses. There are also no residues to be landfilled.

Holcim Philippines is increasing its use of low-carbon fuels in cement manufacturing to reduce carbon emissions, cut use of virgin raw materials and contribute to managing wastes in the country in a sustainable manner. 

 

 

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About Holcim Philippines 

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs. 

  

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country. 

  

Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System). 

  

Holcim Philippines is a member of the Holcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 60 countries with over 70,000 employees. 

  

About Holcim 

Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its strategy Holcim is becoming a net zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving circular construction as a world leader in recycling to build more with less. Holcim is the company behind some of the world’s most trusted brands in the building sector including ACC, Aggregate Industries, Ambuja Cement, Disensa, Geocycle, Holcim, Lafarge and Malarkey Roofing Products. Holcim is 70,000 people around the world who are passionate about building progress for people and the planet through four business segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates and Solutions & Products. 

 

Learn more about Holcim on www.holcim.com, and by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

 

About One Earth One Ocean 

Founded in 2011 by Günther Bonin and led by a team of marine biologists and experts, the environmental organization One Earth - One Ocean e.V. (oeoo) deals with the protection of the environment, in particular the water and coastal protection. It focuses on marine litter cleanup and is involved in the field of oil purification, microplastics, research and education. With the international documentation on marine littering, the organization aims to change the behavior of individuals with regard to (plastic) waste. In 2018 oeoo has become an official partner of the UN Environment #CleanSeas campaign, aiming to engage governments, the general public, civil society and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic litter. 

Stand Proud and Celebrate being Filipino with SM Supermalls

As our national hero, Jose Rizal once said, ‘He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.’ Tracing one’s roots is important to building one’s character. It is crucial to keep your feet on the ground as you reach greater heights. The same rings true for all Filipinos; we cannot truly appreciate the freedom we enjoy today without being aware of what our ancestors have fought for to gain our independence.

To celebrate Philippine Independence Day, SM Supermalls will be holding major events to commemorate this national holiday and encourage Pinoys to further embrace Filipino culture.

Join SM Supermalls’ Flag Raising Ceremony 

Show your love of country and value the sacrifices of the Filipinos who died protecting and defending it. Come in colors of the Philippine flag and head to SM Supermalls’ Flag Raising Ceremony on June 12, 2022 – assembly time is at 8:30am. Give it the utmost importance, as this is the thread that knits Filipinos together from one generation to the next. 

Indulge yourself with the best Pinoy Eats

As a champion of local MSMEs, SM Supermalls will spoil you with Filipino cuisine options and other local products from June 1-12. Savor the diverse and rich Filipino food offerings and have a taste of the best Pinoy dishes and treats from every region of the country. Enjoy special promotions during this period when you order your favorite Pinoy Eats on-ground or when ordering online.

Buy Local, Buy Pinoy

Support local businesses, buy fresh local produce and other specialty items from SM’s affiliates and tenants through the Buy Pinoy pop-up stores. Shop the best locally-made clothes, souvenirs, décor, and food brought to you by only the best Filipino businesses from June 1 to June 12, 2022.

“SM Supermalls have always celebrated Pinoy pride through various events where we get to appreciate our culture and express our gratitude to the heroes of past and present. Our Philippine Independence Day should never be taken for granted, because holding our national pride and heritage in high regard is what makes us true-blooded Filipinos through and through. We encourage everyone to join us as we celebrate freedom at SM Supermalls” Steven T. Tan, President of SM Supermalls, said.  

For #SafeMallingAtSM, you can follow SM Supermalls on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or check out the mall entry guidelines and updates on mall hours here. You can also view the complete SM Directory here.