OCD: Misusing ECBS for pol campaign risks public safety, endangers lives

Logo of the Office of Civil Defense

MANILA, Philippines — The misuse of the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigning and activities can endanger lives, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said on Sunday.

The OCD said that it received reports from residents in certain provinces that they received EBCS alerts that urged them to vote for certain candidates.

The EBCS is designed to issue alerts during emergency situations, like typhoons, earthquakes, and other public safety threats.

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In a statement, the OCD said that it condemns the “inappropriate use” of the EBCS, emphasizing that “[u]tilizing it for political messages not only undermines its critical purpose but also risks desensitizing the public to genuine emergencies, potentially endangering lives.”

“These messages, designed to mimic urgent emergency notifications, create confusion and may lead to complacency during real crises,” the OCD added.

Meanwhile, the agency said that Globe and Smart Telecommunications confirmed that they do not utilize the system for non-emergency purposes, and did not send alerts for political use.

The OCD noted that “none of these telecommunications providers offer ECBS services to private individuals or companies for any purpose other than genuine emergencies.”

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Further, it said that they elevated the matter to the National Telecommunications Office for further investigation and action.

It then urged the public to report misuse of the EBCS to collectively ensure the integrity and purpose of the system in keeping the public safe.