Andales: Start removing telco tower in Barangay Apas

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Sisinio Andales wants the Office of the Mayor to compel one of the telecommunication companies to remove its tower in Barangay Apas following the revocation of its special use permit by the City Council more than two months ago.

Andales said the Globe Telecom has not filed a motion for reconsideration on the council’s order for it to remove its cell site in Sitio Calvary Hills, making the order final and executor.

“In view of the fact that Globe Telecom has not filed any reconsideration of the resolution passed by the City Council, we would ask the Office of the Mayor to dismantle and demolish the cell sites of Globe Telecom because it is now final and executory,” Andales said.

The council approved a resolution on May 27 revoking the special use permits granted to Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular. The two telecom companies were given two months to dismantle their towers which had already lapsed.

Sun Cellular, however, sought for reconsideration of the resolution. The motion had been referred to the committee on laws and the city legal office for further study and to come up with recommendations.

The members of the Calvary Hills Apas Residents Organization pleaded before the City Council to deny the motion for reconsideration.

The residents said they have reviewed Sun Cellular’s motion and found “several inconsistencies.”

The residents petitioned for the removal of the towers, blaming them for the cancer-related deaths in the community. According to the residents, there were already 31 residents in the area who have died because of cancer.

Councilors Nestor Archival Sr. and Alvin Arcilla said it would be difficult for the city government workers to demolish the cell site towers. The two, instead, suggested locking down the facility or deactivating the tower.

Andales, a member of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, questioned Mayor Michael Rama’s failure to implement the council resolution.

Mary Antoniette Olivar, the City Council secretary, said it was a mistake on their part because they have not submitted a copy of the resolution to the city mayor.

“It was really our lapse that we are not able to send the resolution to the mayor but we did send directly to Sun Cellular and Globe Telecom… so I accepted our lapse,” she said.  (FREEMAN)