Wednesday, February 13, 2008 ABC president says there was consultation
ASSOCIATION of Barangay Councils president Osmundo Manreal Jr. yesterday belied claims that the telecommunications tower in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City was built without public consultations.
Manreal, also Pooc barangay captain, said all the requirements were complied with before the private firm constructed the tower late last year.
These requirements included the public hearing with barangay residents, conference with company officials at City Hall and approval of variance allowing the tower installation on a vacant residential lot, he said.
Vacant lot
Manreal said former Talisay town councilor Nilo Empaces, a Pooc resident, was among those who attended the public consultation in the barangay.
“The project site is a vacant lot located just 50 meters across the house of Empaces,” he said.
Manreal lamented that only few attended the public hearing despite repeated announcements of barangay council members.
No concern
Sad to say that some of the residents have this habit of showing no concern about the activities in the barangay,” Manreal said.
Manreal, an ex-officio member in the City Council, clarified this as Mayor Socrates Fernandez was reportedly bothered by reports about the lack of public consultations on the tower project.
A group of Pooc residents signed a petition last September asking Fernandez to block the project, citing ill-effects of long exposure to microwave radiation and lack of public hearing.
They also asked City Hall to institute safety measures on future cellular tower constructions in the city. (GC)
