Should telcos charge 911 calls? Netizens weigh in

MANILA, Philippines – Should telecommunications companies (telcos) charge calls made through the 911 hotline?

On Thursday, July 28, netizens criticized Globe Telecom over it’s announcement of charging an additional P5 aside from the regular voice charges for subscribers calling the planned Philippine 911 hotline, an idea suggested by the government to discourage prank callers. Other telcos may also levy a charge.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier announced that a 24-hour hotline for citizen complaints and an emergency hotline, one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises, will go live in the Philippines in August.

The move scales up Davao City’s world-class 911 emergency response system on a national scale.

Filipinos took to Facebook and Twitter to express their disappointment about the decision saying emergency calls to the hotline should be free.

How to deal with prank calls

Commenters argued that emergency calls should not be charged and suggested ways to deal with prank calls.

“An emergency is an emergency. Prank calls or not, no one should charge extra for emergency calls”, said David Christopher Castillo commenting on a Facebook post. “Though it is a given fact to be prepared, it is, at most times, inevitable that there will be a time that you won’t be”.

Another Facebook user, Danilo Mangila Adiao, suggested the implementation of a law requiring the registration of sim cards in order to easily identify prank callers.

According to Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo, the idea was originally suggested by the government to discourage prank calls.

“As suggested by the government to discourage prank calls, we would also like to inform our customers that those calling the hotlines will incur regular voice charges plus an additional P5/call for those calling the 911 hotline,” Castelo said in a statement, July 27.

Twitter users also expressed their sentiments against the issue. 

911 should be FREE OF CHARGE.
5 pesos is a cheap price to pay just to make a prank call if you really wanted to.https://t.co/t24sc2JkKC

— medstudentsPH (@medstudentsPH) July 28, 2016

I was gripped with resent about the latest statement of Globe that requires 5-peso load to be able to dial 911. wew

— joshua (@joshuacarlv) July 28, 2016

I think #Duterte should also wage a war on prank callers, then #Globe would never have to charge 5 pesos per 911 call.

— Kat Bernardo (@katbbernardo) July 28, 2016

@MovePH No. The government should pay for this service. Pranksters should be punished. Reality check is can the government afford?

— Maan Briones (@maanbrio) July 28, 2016

@MovePH what happens if you don’t have any load? I think they need to rethink this carefully.

— Zak Yuson (@zakyuson) July 28, 2016

@MovePH Implementing a strict policy sounds like a better idea. Warn them the first time. Deactivate the number the next time.

— Nadine P. (@naddzie) July 28, 2016

Favorable

Meanwhile, some netizens agreed with the additional charges but suggested that emergency calls should only be charged when a person has load.

“It’s okay if there is a charge. Although, hopefully, the public can still call the hotline even without load,” Yuphie Cuanco said in Filipino on a Facebook post. “Then they could charge when the next time the person loads up his or her mobile phone.” 

Facebook user, Achilles James expressed a similar sentiment but suggested that prank callers should be fined afterwards.

“Don’t charge the call immediately. Let the operator decide on whether the call is legit or otherwise,” he said. “Charge the prank caller P1000 and a court summon.”

Here are the Twitter posts on this issue: 

@rapplerdotcom i agree with this one, alam ko sa US ata may charge din pagtawag sa 911

— W (@ichellena) July 28, 2016 

@rapplerdotcom agree, let them pay for their prank calls…

— Ka Jim (@j416_juan) July 28, 2016

As mandated by the government, Globe said they are prepared to relay voice calls for the 911 and 8888 hotlines starting August 1.

The emergency hotline proved effective in Davao City, with fast response times of police, firefighters, and medical personnel during emergencies. – Rappler.com

Tessa Barre is a student at UP Diliman and a Rappler intern.