Baguio probes illegal construction of telco towers in villages

(File photo courtesy of Tech.PH) BAGUIO CITY - The city government is probing the alleged unauthorized erection of cellular towers in privately owned structures within residential areas. In an interview Thursday, city council information officer Jordan Habbiling said the body has initiated a forum in response to a petition of residents of Barangay Gibraltar over the presence of a cellular tower in their area. During the forum, it was revealed that the antenna tower is in a high-density residential area as classified by the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) which is allowed only in areas classified as utility zones. He said the tower is for the use of the DITO Telecommunity Corp. (DITO) which was also found to have not obtained a location clearance before constructing the cellular tower. The city government requires a clearance for the construction of cellular towers to ensure compliance with its zoning guidelines. Habbiling said the petition came with a request to investigate whether DITO had secured the necessary clearance and permission from the concerned offices. A zoning clearance is issued upon completion of the required document which includes a zoning exemption with an affidavit of non-objection of the adjacent property owners to the proposed project and the result of the barangay public consultation of the proposed project or a barangay resolution endorsing it. He added that the record from the City Building Office shows that the residential structure where the cellular tower was erected is neither covered by a building permit nor by a tax declaration. Similar letters from residents of Upper Pinget and Bakakeng Central were also received by the city, expressing opposition to the construction of cellular towers by DITO in their areas. Prof. Agnette Peralta, a former director of the Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research (CDRRHR) of the Food and Drug Administration, earlier said a safety evaluation should be done before the construction or installation of a cellular tower to assure the safety of the community. "The radiofrequency radiation safety evaluation done by the office is one of the documents required by government agencies and by the local government unit for the putting up of facilities emitting radiofrequency radiation such as a cellular site. If the facility complies with the limits set by the Department of Health, then there is no cause for alarm," Peralta said. (PNA) }

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Gibraltar ,Agnette Peralta ,Radiation Health ,Telecommunity Corp ,Department Of Health ,City Building Office ,Drug Administration ,Development Office ,Jordan Habbiling ,Barangay Gibraltar ,City Planning ,Upper Pinget ,Bakakeng Central ,Device Regulation ,Ile Photo Courtesy Of Tech Ph Baguio City The Government Is Probing Alleged Unauthorized Erection Cellular Towers In Privately Owned Structures Within Residential Areas An Interview Thursday ,Ity Council Information Officer Jordan Habbiling Said The Body Has Initiateda Forum In Response Toa Petition Of Residents Barangay Gibraltar Over Presence Ofa Cellular Tower Their Area During ,T Was Revealed That The Antenna Tower Is Ina High Density Residential Area As Classified By City Planning And Development Office Cpdo Which Allowed Only In Areas Utility Zones He Said For Use Of Dito Telecommunity Corp Also Found To Have Not Obtaineda Location Clearance Before Constructing Cellular Government Requiresa Construction Towers Ensure Compliance With Its Zoning Guidelines Habbiling Petition Came Witha Request Investigate Whether Had Secured Necessary Permission From Concerned Officesa Issued Upon Completion Required Document Includesa Exemption An Affidavit Non Objection Adjacent Property Owners Proposed Project Result Barangay Public Consultation Ora Resolution Endorsing It Added Record Building Shows Structure Where Erected Neither Covered Bya Permit Nor Tax Declaration Similar Letters Residents Upper Pinget Bakakeng Central Were Received ,Xpressing Opposition To The Construction Of Cellular Towers By Dito In Their Areas Prof Agnette Peralta ,A Former Director Of The Center For Device Regulation ,Adiation Health And Research Cdrrhr Of The Food Drug Administration ,Arlier Saida Safety Evaluation Should Be Done Before The Construction Or Installation Ofa Cellular Tower To Assure Of Community Quot Radiofrequency Radiation By Office Is One Documents Required Government Agencies And Local Unit For Putting Up Facilities Emitting Such Asa Site If Facility Complies With Limits Set Department Health ,Hen There Is No Cause For Alarm ,Uot Peralta Said Pna ,