The mayor of Balilihan, Bohol has said she was not given proper notice about the provincial government’s plan to withdraw personnel from a TaRSIER emergency rescue substation, trigerring questions about communication protocols in disaster response operations.
Mayor Esther Patrisha “Trisha” Chatto told reporters she only learned about the planned withdrawal of Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Rescue 117 (TaRSIER 117) personnel through a phone call one day before implementation was scheduled.
“I was not given any prior written communication or explanation for the move,” Chatto said, adding that the withdrawal would have affected emergency response coverage in Balilihan and neighboring municipalities.
The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) had planned to redeploy the personnel to Tagbilaran City.
However, the withdrawal was aborted and a stay order issued pending further notice after Chatto was informed.
The mayor acknowledged hearing rumors about the potential withdrawal but said she “didn’t think much of it until the phone call.”
Chatto Legacy
TaRSIER 117 was established during the tenure of former Bohol Governor Atty. Edgar Chatto, the current mayor’s father, when he served as Bohol governor.
The unit has been expanded and developed by subsequent governors and has earned recognition as one of the most awarded rescue units in Central Visayas region. It operates under the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), headed by Dr. Anthony Damalerio.
The emergency response network serves as a critical lifeline for residents across Bohol.
In response to the confusion over TaRSIER 117’s status, Mayor Chatto has informed residents they can contact the Balilihan Active Rescue Team (BART) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for emergency situations.
The mayor, who took office as part of her platform focusing on infrastructure and social services, has outlined priorities including improving water supply, enhancing healthcare services, and establishing a dialysis center in Balilihan.
Her administration also plans to provide free physical education uniforms to public school students and implement a school bus service.
Chatto has pledged to “serve with justice and fairness, providing assistance to everyone, regardless of their support during the elections.”
The mayor recently addressed a national convention of Classique Herbs Corporation held in Bohol, where she spoke to delegates from across the Philippines.
She expressed gratitude to organizers for the opportunity to address the gathering.
TARSIER unit in Balilihan downsizes operations
The TaRSIER 117 emergency response substation in Balilihan, Bohol has reduced its operations from 24-hour coverage and will eventually relocate to a district hospital, according to newly-elected councilor Pureza Veloso Chatto.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Anthony Damalerio met with local officials including Mayor Trisha Chatto to discuss the operational changes affecting the emergency response unit.
TaRSIER 117 is a provincial emergency medical services program that provides rapid response capabilities across Bohol province.
The Balilihan substation has been operating since the program’s establishment as part of the province’s disaster preparedness infrastructure.
“The TaRSIER implemented a downsizing and reduced their operations from 24/7,” said Chatto, who previously served as Balilihan mayor before her daughter took office. “While the substation was not withdrawn, the manpower was reduced, and the personnel were redeployed.”
The emergency unit will eventually be transferred to the nearest district hospital in Catigbian, according to Chatto.
The move raises questions about response times for medical emergencies in the mountainous interior municipality.
Several job order workers who received specialized first response training face uncertain employment prospects.
Many are Balilihan residents supporting families and may not be rehired elsewhere in the system.
“Some of the removed personnel have asked for help from the LGU, but there is an issue whether or not the town can absorb them and hire them,” Chatto said.
The decision appears to have been made at the provincial level without local government consultation, according to Chatto.
She noted that other TaRSIER substations, including one in Ubay municipality, operate outside hospital facilities.
The timing coincides with new hiring announcements for TaRSIER positions posted on social media, raising questions about the redeployment strategy.
Mother-daughter political transition marks new chapter in Balilihan
Former Balilihan mayor Pureza Veloso Chatto formally transferred leadership to her daughter Trisha in a ceremony featuring symbolic elements reflecting the town’s agricultural heritage.
The transition ceremony included presentations from department heads outlining plans and accomplishments, culminating in the symbolic handover of the municipal flag.
Pureza folded the town’s flag and presented it to Trisha, who unfurled and hoisted it before assembled officials and residents.
The municipality has adopted green as its primary color scheme, representing the lush grass (balili) from which the town derives its name.
Purple accents were added as Mayor Trisha’s signature color, symbolizing justice and fairness, while municipal equipment will remain white.
“Purple was added as Trisha’s statement color, representing justice and fairness,” the elder Chatto explained.
Pureza Chatto, who is married to former congressman Edgar Chatto, noted that the family’s political veterans will not interfere with the new mayor’s governance.
Atty. Edgar Chatto served 43 years in public service, including terms as Bohol governor from 2010 to 2019.
“While they will offer guidance, Trisha is capable of making her own decisions and juggling priorities,” Pureza said, noting her daughter’s tendency to speak spontaneously rather than from prepared remarks.
The elder Chatto praised her daughter’s communication style, describing it as rooted in experience and genuine commitment to public service.
Edgar Chatto has transitioned to private life, focusing on agricultural pursuits while continuing community assistance activities.
The family indicated they will not seek additional public offices unless community demand warrants their involvement.
Tagbilaran flooding solution nears completion, says DPWH
The Department of Public Works and Highways expects to resolve chronic flooding near Bohol Wisdom School by next month through a major drainage connection project, officials announced.
District Engineer John Paul Gascon of DPWH’s first engineering district said the solution involves linking the CPG Avenue drainage system to the newly constructed canal on Peñaflor Street.
“Once the connection is made, the flooding in front of Bohol Wisdom School will be a thing of the past,” Gascon said.
The Peñaflor drainage system, constructed at a cost of P75 million pesos, is designed to handle substantial flood volumes during heavy rainfall.
The area experiences regular inundation during the rainy season, disrupting traffic and business operations.
The project is an infrastructure legacy of former congressman Edgar Chatto, who secured funding for multiple flood control projects during his tenure representing Bohol’s first district.
The DPWH indicated that while technical issues remain to be resolved, the drainage connection should eliminate the recurring flood problems that have affected the educational institution and surrounding commercial areas.
Bohol governor presses DPWH on delayed flood control projects
Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado met with Department of Public Works and Highways engineers Wednesday to address mounting issues over delayed flood control projects and a stalled sewerage treatment plant.
District Engineer John Paul Gascon led the DPWH team in providing updates on flood control construction across Tagbilaran City and other Bohol municipalities during the Capitol meeting.
The discussion followed recent flooding near the Capitol complex during heavy rainfall, unveiling the urgent need for infrastructure improvements in Tagbilaran.
A major sewerage treatment plant project in Tagbilaran remains stalled due to the absence of required approval certificates from the host barangay, officials reported.
The DPWH is prioritizing drainage system improvements as an interim measure.
“The DPWH is focusing on the drainage system first, hoping that it will ease flooding in flood-prone areas,” according to meeting participants.
Aumentado expressed frustration with delays in nationally-funded projects and requested regular progress reports from the DPWH.
He also coordinated with Congressman John Geesnell Yap II to ensure proper implementation oversight.
The governor has urged public cooperation in proper waste disposal.
DPWH declogging operations regularly remove substantial amounts of plastic waste from canal systems, contributing to flooding problems.
“He urged the public to cooperate with the government’s initiatives to avoid huge floods, citing improper waste disposal as a major cause of flooding,” officials noted.