AN OFFICIAL of a school in Talisay City yesterday appealed to health authorities not to take lightly the reported harmful effects of a cell site’s radiation, as this may also affect the health of over 700 pupils of the Maghaway Elementary School (MES).
MES School Principal Erwin Caparida formally wrote Department of Health (DOH) 7 Director Susana Madarieta about his concern of the school children’s welfare.
“The Maghaway Elementary School lives with the idea that no material thing can equate the value of having good health, particularly for our school children,” his letter
read.
Operations
Caparida said he got the courage to inform the DOH 7 as he also experienced the same health problem reportedly brought about by the operations of the cell towers of Sun Cellular, Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom.
Of the three cell sites, the officers and members of the Saint Arnold Janssen Village Home-owners Association (SAJVHOA) want the immediate removal of Sun Cellular and Smart.
The newly installed Sun Cellular tower has still to start its operation.
“Most of them, if not all the people living near the cell sites have the commonality of feelings and complaints like what I’ve felt,” Caparida said.
Among others, he cited the lack of sleep and nausea due to severe headache, nervousness and discomfort.
“In fact, I suffer unusual headache and nausea for the couples of months upon staying longer in my office. I thought it was just an ordinary feeling especially when we get
tired. But I felt it differently,” Caparida said.
But what he is concerned about most is the health of the school children. Ten pupils have already missed their classes due to headaches.
Caparidad lamented that the DOH 7, through its representative, Engr. Darren Casipong, has stood pat that there are no harmful effects of the cell sites’ operations.
“On behalf of more than 700 pupils in Maghaway Elementary School, I humbly beg your benevolent heart to help us in our quest for good health… (an) atmosphere (conducive) to learning and healthy environment,” he said.
SAJVHOA auditor Roberto Camay and tricycle driver Bibiano Bonghanoy hand carried Caparida’s letter to Madarieta’s office in Cebu City yesterday.
The Bonghanoy family members complained of recurring headaches and physical exhaustion since the Smart tower was installed near their house about five years ago.
Cristino, Bibiano’s 53-year-old father, even challenged health officials to stay in their house for one month “for them to experience what we’ve felt.”
They believed their amount of exposure to radiation they get from the Smart cell site is strong because its tower is not as tall compared to those of its rival telecommunications companies. (GC)
