Rama urged: Order removal of telecom towers in Apas

CEBU, Philippines - The officials of Barangay Apas has appealed to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to order the removal of the cell site towers in the barangay following a City Council resolution revoking the special use permit granted to the telecommunication companies because of the complaints from the residents in Calvary Hills.

The telecom companies, Sun Cellular and Globe Telecom, however, asked for a reconsideration of the City Council’s order giving them two months to remove their towers.

Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman said that despite the pending motion for reconsideration, the city government can already start removing the cell sites unless a temporary restraining order is issued by the court.

“I think it is up for the mayor for the revocation and the demolition of the cell site. It is due on July 27. Kon dili maaktohan until July 27, magpadayon lang gihapon na sila,” Ayuman said.

The City Council on May 27 approved a resolution revoking the telecoms permit and giving the companies two months to remove their towers.

Dr. Porponio Lapa Jr., president of the Calvary Hills Apas Residents’ Organization, said they will continue to fight until the towers are removed. He said the telecom companies committed a “legal defect” there was no proper consultation among the residents before the towers were built.

The barangay residents petitioned for the transfer or removal of the towers, which they blamed for the 25 cancer-related deaths in the area for the past 15 years. The radiation emitted from the towers allegedly causes cancer.

Apart from the health-related allegations, Lapa said there is a legal and ethical issue that is another ground for their petition for the towers’ transfer or removal.

“There was a legal flaw and it was only discovered by the City Council lately when they saw that the telecom firms has no documents to show that there was a consultation or conscience to the residents, that is the time they decided to revoke the permit to operate,” he said.

“That was a major legal defect therefore the City Council has the right to revoke, to correct the mistake that they did. They approved (the resolution) since the assumption of irregularity was there,” Lapa added.— May B. Miasco/FPL (FREEMAN)