Group urges public to drop telco tower fears

MANILA, Philippines — CitizenWatch Philippines is calling on the public to set aside misplaced fears surrounding the installation of telco towers near schools, urging a science-based understanding of the issue and highlighting the urgent need to expand digital access in education.

The group made the statement in response to growing concerns from some communities and school stakeholders about supposed health risks from radiation emitted by cell towers. These fears, according to CitizenWatch, are not supported by science and may actually delay much-needed infrastructure that would help students and teachers in underserved areas gain access to reliable internet connectivity.

“Let’s base our decisions on science, not speculation,” said Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines. “Decades of global research show that the radio signals coming from cell towers–even those near schools–are hundreds to thousands of times below levels that could harm people.”

Oxales pointed to a research by global health authorities such as the World Health Organization and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, which have found no confirmed health risks from the kind of low-level radio signals emitted by base stations. Unlike ionizing radiation from X-rays or ultraviolet rays, radio frequency (RF) signals from telco towers are non-ionizing, meaning they do not have enough energy to damage human cells or DNA.

He also cited a study conducted in Greece where researchers measured RF exposure levels in over 200 schools and found that in 97.5 percent of cases, the exposure was at least 3,500 times lower than the legal safety limit. Similar studies on 5G infrastructure have shown that even with increased deployment, actual exposure in schools and public spaces remains well within international safety thresholds.

Oxales emphasized that one of the most common misconceptions is that any kind of radiation is inherently dangerous, or that children are more vulnerable to these signals. While he acknowledged the importance of protecting young learners, he pointed out that international safety standards already factor in the needs of vulnerable populations, including children, and have been updated as technology evolves.

“Fear is understandable,but we should not let it hinder progress,” he said. “By opposing needed telco infrastructure near schools, we may be holding back students from accessing digital tools that can dramatically improve their learning.”

With the Department of Education pushing for more technology integration in classrooms, Oxales stressed the importance of strong, stable internet connections to support blended learning, teacher development, and access to modern educational content.