PLDT / Smart Text-Bato Announced, Direct Access To Chief PNP!

PLDT / Smart, the leading telecom and digital ervice provider int he country, has announced that they're providing an SMS (text) platform and internet connectivity for the PNP (Philippine National Police).

Now operational!

It includes "Text-Bato", a hotline service that allows ordinary citizens to report crime incidents and law enforcement concerns directly to the Chief of Police, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

PNP, PLDT, Smart sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide the text platform "Text Bato" hotline service and connectivity for the "Itaga Mo Sa Bato" Police Quick Response Center

All Smart subscribers need to do is type BATO (space) their message and send it to 7444-2286 for 1 Peso. Once the report reaches the hotline, Text Bato platform will fire a confirmation to the sender with "PNPBATO" as the unique sender name. Then PNP will verify if those reports require appropriate course of action.

Apart from that, Smart also assigned a dedicated wireless device for Dela Rosa himself to personally access all incoming messages and have the option to directly reply to every message sender.

As a sign of support, PLDT and Smart Spokesman and Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto said that the telco will be committed to help the PNP in making its services widely accessible to the general public

“Aside from enabling this service, we also pledge to support the PNP in protecting the privacy of participating subscribers and in ensuring the confidentiality of each message transmitted to the text hotline,” relays Isberto.

Then PLDT is also backing up the hotline system by providing internet connectivity at the Text Bato Operations Center. It'll provide round-the-clock support for Dela Rosa in verifying the text reports and mobilizing speedy response.

This is a great complement to the 911 emergency hotline as Text-Bato will focus on getting citizen-generated report about law enforcement and police concerns.

Great news right?