This paper is about the development of SAFE, which stands for Silent Assistance for Emergencies. The SAFE

system is a mobile-based emergency reporting system. It is designed to help the mute community in Alaminos

City. Most emergency services need people to talk to them. This makes it hard for people who are deaf and mute

to get help when they need it. The city is increasingly utilizing technology for its public services. This technology

can really help make things more accessible and safer for everyone, the deaf and mute community, by using

SAFE, the mobile-based emergency reporting system. The development of the SAFE application provides users

with one-tap emergency buttons, GPS-based location sharing, and visual alerts for silent reporting. This study

employed a developmental research approach using the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model to create

a working mobile application suitable for emergency reporting. The evaluation results show that the system

Philippines and most other countries, access to emergency services can be availed mainly through voice-based

hotlines like 911 and other local emergency numbers of different government agencies [1]. As helpful as these

systems are for the mainstream population because there is a requirement for verbal communication in reporting

the need for help; these become major limitations for the deaf or mute or both [2]. Researches show that hearing

and speech-impaired individuals often experience delayed emergency responses resulting from

miscommunications or sometimes not being able to communicate an emergency at all due to barriers in

communication [3].

Globally, more than 430 million people have disabling hearing loss; this number will increase in tandem with

global population aging as well as increased attention and enhanced diagnostic efforts [4]. Disability advocacy

groups and government institutions stressed the need to have an inclusive public service that will pave the way

technology has emerged as a crucial tool in the provision of public services [7]. By giving responders instant

alerts and GPS location data, mobile-based emergency systems have been demonstrated to enhance situational

awareness and response time [8]. However, the majority of current emergency applications still prioritize audio

communication and voice calls, which makes them inappropriate for individuals with speech and hearing

impairments. Mobile systems that facilitate touch-based, visual, and silent emergency reporting are therefore in

high demand [9].

Agencies like the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Office are in charge of emergency response in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. Emergency

situations are typically reported over the phone, and the caller is required to give a verbal description of the

situation as well as the location. This procedure is very challenging or impossible for deaf and mute people,

The Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), which acts as a central authority in charge of coordination

and verification with emergency agencies, receives all reports. For people with disabilities, similar mobile-based

emergency systems have been demonstrated to increase accessibility and response effectiveness [11].

Mobile-based solutions are becoming crucial for enhancing public safety and service delivery in the Philippines

due to the swift expansion of digital services, particularly in local government operations [12]. By eliminating

communication barriers and offering a silent, user-friendly emergency reporting tool, SAFE adoption supports

the transition toward digital governance and disability-inclusive systems. The creation of the SAFE mobile

application is discussed in this paper as a workable and long-term way to increase Alaminos City's accessibility

for emergency response.

Figure 1. Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model.

Source: SlideTeam – RAD Model Diagram [13].

Gathering system requirements and comprehending the shortcomings of current emergency reporting techniques

were the main goals of the analysis phase. Personnel from the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO)

and emergency responders were interviewed and observed in order to determine communication barriers,

reporting protocols, and essential features like GPS tracking, pre-programmed messages, and visual

confirmations.

As part of this phase, the existing emergency reporting process was documented, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Existing Emergency Reporting Process

found. Communication obstacles, slow response times, inaccurate location data, reliance on middlemen, and the

lack of an easily accessible reporting channel are some of these. For non-verbal users, these issues lead to an

unreliable and ineffective system.

Figure 3. Fishbone Diagram of Challenges in Emergency Reporting for the Deaf and Mute Community

Users are unable to adequately explain their circumstances due to communication barriers. Responders find it

challenging to find the victim in the absence of GPS-based reporting. When users have to wait for someone else

to report on their behalf, delays happen. During emergencies, these problems put deaf and mute people at high

were created. To make sure that reports, locations, and alerts were transmitted accurately and clearly, these

prototypes were continuously tested and improved based on input from emergency personnel.

To ensure that every feature functioned as intended, the system was put through functional, interface, and

performance testing during the testing phase. Simulated emergency scenarios were used to test dashboard

notifications, GPS location accuracy, and emergency alert transmission.

The fully developed SAFE system was finally put into use in a controlled setting during the implementation

phase. Every feature, such as pre-programmed alert messages, real-time GPS sharing, and one-tap emergency

buttons, was turned on and ready for practical use.

To find out how deaf and mute people currently report emergencies, the researchers conducted a number of

interviewed. Additionally, observations were made regarding the current procedures for receiving, confirming,

and forwarding emergency reports. Through these exercises, the researchers were able to determine the

A framework in system development offers the structure and rules needed to create a dependable and useful

application. Deaf/Mute Users and PDAO Personnel are the two main user roles that the SAFE system is intended

to support.

Users can choose the incident type (fire, medical, criminal, or disaster) and send the report immediately using

the emergency reporting module. The user's GPS location, time stamp, and alert type are all included in the

report.

PDAO employees can view real-time alerts, verify details, and communicate with emergency responders via the

monitoring module. The user receives visual confirmation from the notification module that their emergency

request was successfully sent.

The SAFE system follows a three-tier architecture, consisting of the presentation tier, application tier, and data

tier, as shown in Figure 4.

The Firebase Realtime Database is where the data tier keeps user profiles, incident history, GPS locations, and

emergency reports. This makes it possible for the PDAO system and the mobile app to synchronize in real time.

The app transmits the location and alert to Firebase when a user hits an emergency button. The PDAO dashboard

instantly displays the data, enabling employees to take action. Firebase Authentication is used to manage

authentication and access control so that only employees and authorized users can access the system.

By offering fresh approaches to enduring issues and enhancing current systems, innovation propels

advancement. In order to help the deaf and mute community access emergency services, SAFE (Silent Assistance

for Emergencies) was created. The system allows users to independently and swiftly request assistance without

using voice communication by offering a mobile platform with one-tap emergency reporting, GPS-based

location sharing, and visual confirmation alerts.

Emergency reports can now be more effectively verified, tracked, and sent to the relevant agencies through the

centralized PDAO web dashboard. The SAFE system enhances response coordination, digitizes the conventional

emergency reporting procedure, and fosters safety and inclusivity for people with communication impairments.

Because of this, SAFE provides a dependable and easily accessible solution that enhances emergency response