BAGUIO CITY – The City Council gave the management of Globe Telecom a 15-day grace period to file its position paper in relation to Resolution No. 239, series of 2008 requesting the telecommunications company to relocate its tower in Upper Market Subdivision barangay.
The council decided on the action after lawyer Solgrandioso A. David, Jr., head special projects of Globe Telecom, Inc., informed the local legislative body that the company has never received a copy of the resolution. He said Globe management needs to study the resolution and file a motion for reconsideration to revoke the request to relocate its tower in the said barangay.
Earlier, Resolution No. 12, series of 2016 of Barangay Upper Market Subdivision reiterated the firm stand of the Barangay Council and residents for the removal and transfer of the Globe tower in the said barangay because of its serious negative effects on the health of the residents who had been allegedly affected by radiation emanating from the said tower.
David explained to the council that health experts studied the reported radiation emanating from the tower and it proved that there is no threat of radiation from the tower to the people living in the community, except within a 3-meter radius from its antenna.
The council set another consultation among the stakeholders on September 26, 2016 after the company shall have filed its position paper and bring with them the appropriate health and technical people who will shed light on the fear of the people that the main cause of cancer cases in the barangay is the reported radiation being emitted by the Globe tower situated within the heart of the village.
David assured local legislators that the company will voluntarily dismantle its tower once there will be a concrete finding from competent agencies and experts that the tower poses a threat to the health of the barangay residents.
The council questioned Globe management if it conducted the consultations with the barangay officials and residents of Upper Market Subdivision prior to the put up of the tower but David informed the Council he will provide the pertinent documents relative to the said issue as he was not with the company when the tower was erected sometime in 2002.
The council also requested Globe management to bring with them health experts during their proposed consultations within three weeks so that health issues relative to presenceof the tower within residential areas will be clarified.
David expressed the company’s willingness to cooperate with the scheduled consultation and bring with them the pertinent documents for all concerned stakeholders to be clarified on how the tower was erected in the said barangay over 14 years ago./By Dexter A. See
