Brgy Apas cellsite lots Group urges owner not to renew lease

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Barangay Apas, Cebu City occupants and homeowner’s association are asking the owner of a lot in the barangay not to renew the contract of two giant telecommunication companies whose cell towers are in the property.

Officials of the barangay are supporting the call.

“(To halt the signing of contract,) we invoke the general welfare clause under the Local Government Code (of 1991 or Republic Act 7160,)” said Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman.

He said barangay officials and the homeowners association must consent to a renewal, if ever. The contract reportedly expired on August 31.

Residents in the barangay have claimed that radiation emitted from the cell towers caused the death of six people there this year and the reason behind the increasing number of residents developing cancer.

“Local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants,” reads the Local Government Code.

The City Council previously directed the executive department to remove the cell sites of Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular at Sitio Calvary Hills.

Sun Cellular has asked that the council reconsider the move. The company’s motion for reconsideration is being reviewed by the Council’s Committee on Laws, Ordinances, Public Accountability and Good Government.

In a position paper, the Calvary Hills Apas Residents’ Organization opposed Sun Cellular’s position.

“We, the residents of Calvary Hills, disagree with the claims mentioned by Sun Cellular in its motion for reconsideration that there was no due process. Records of the City Council show that the companies were given opportunities to express their sides. This includes the executive session and conferences called by the Cebu City Legal Office,” the paper reads.

During a public hearing at the barangay yesterday, the group underscored that the lives and health of the residents are more important.

“I would like to appeal to the telecommunication companies, please stop immediately your operations in our place… Listening to people’s clamor is your real corporate (social) responsibility,” said CHARO President Porponio Lapa Jr.

“The Department of Health’s claim that there is no conclusive evidence to show the deadly effects of cell sites radiation is a lie, deception to the public - DOH has not conducted any study on their own to determine the harmful or non-harmful effects of cell site radiations… The machine used by DOH-7 to measure radiation effects was not appropriate for cell site effects,” the position paper reads further.

The group stated further that their area is residential, not commercial and industrial in nature. — May B. Miasco/JMO (FREEMAN)