Bohol's version of America's 911, the award-winning Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Response (TARSIER) 117, remains free-of-charge to the public while it mulls of charging minimal fees against non-emergency cases requested by private groups or corporations. This was the clarification of Provincial Administrator Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio II, in reaction to what Capitol has said as “misleading” news report which claimed that TARSIER 117 would no longer be free to the public. Damalerio, speaking at the Kita ug Ang Gobernador radio program Friday, categorically declared that TARSIER 117 will always be free to the public, consistent with the commitment of the administration of Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim who puts health services a priority program. “What is not free is when TARSIER 117 is being tapped during non-emergency events, organized by private groups for private purposes,” explained Damalerio, also head of TARSIER 117 operations.

He cited marathons, concerts, or any other competitions funded by corporations as examples of non-emergency cases. “Our constituents can assure that TARSIER 117 will always remain free for public use,” the provincial administrator said. He pointed out that the planned fees to be imposed during non-emergency cases would still be deliberated at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). “Since we cannot impose any fees without any ordinance, there is a need for an enabling law that will set such fees TARSIER 117,” said Damalerio. In a proposal prepared by Mark Sidney Du Galia, head of TARSIER 117's emergency management division, it states that the rates “shall not apply to special arrangements and accommodations made between the provincial government of Bohol or TARSIER 117 and various national and local government institutions, indigenous group and for other humanitarian activities.” Damalerio noted that the imposition of minimal fees for non-emergency cases would not hamper the free public service TARSIER 117 has been providing to the Boholano community.