PLDT, Smart launch cell site safety campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Telco giant PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. are working with international and local experts to help educate customers about the safety of cell sites.

The education campaign launched by the companies also seek to inform customers on the important role of speeding up PLDT and Smart’s network expansion efforts across the country in improving customer experience.

“This campaign is aimed at gaining support from communities for our accelerated nationwide network rollout for enhanced connectivity to serve more Filipinos with world-class customer experience and to fulfill our promise to always keep our customers as our North Star,” PLDT and Smart president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said.

At the center of the education campaign is a video explainer featuring interviews with experts to dispel common disinformation linking cell sites and radiofrequency waves with health issues.

Among those featured in the video is Ken Karipidis, assistant director at the assessment and advice section, radiation health services branch of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.

“There are no proven long-term effects such as cancer from radio waves. In fact, there is no substantiated evidence of any health effects from radio waves at levels below the limits of the standard,” Karipidis said.

PLDT said local experts from the government and private sector have also echoed Karipidis’ findings.

“Even the American Cancer Society has said that there is no association between radiofrequency energy and the causation of cancer. They have not found any cases where one can be associated with the other. They have found no proof that one is associated with the other,” said Johanna Patricia Cañal, chief radiation oncologist at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.

Maria Gladys Cabrera, division chief of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Department of Health, said the government has measures in place to ensure safety of cell sites even before they are installed, including 5G antennas.

“The FDA would like to reassure the public that prior to the installation of the antennas, an evaluation is done to determine their safety. This is applicable to all our antenna installations, including 5G antennas,” she said.

Since the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s issuance last year of the joint memorandum circular fast-tracking the issuance of permits, PLDT and Smart have secured more than 43,000 fixed and wireless permits as of end-November.

“This initiative is in support for the government’s bid to improve the quality of connectivity in the country and is aligned with the PLDT Group’s commitment to help the country attain the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” PLDT said.