Saturday, September 08, 2007 Mabalacat folks maintain opposition to cellsite By Reynaldo G. Navales
MABALACAT -- No to cellsite!
This was the cry of the residents of Maryland Resettlement in Barangay Sapang Biabas here against the construction of a giant telecom firm’s cellsite near the village.
The villagers reiterated their stand on the issue during a supposed hearing where officials of the Department and Health (DOH), led by Elizabeth Mendoza -- health physicist of the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology, conducted a symposium regarding the alleged effects to human health of radiation emitted by cellsites.
The dialogue, which was attended by scores of residents, was held at the Maryland Resettlement Chapel on Wednesday.
The homeowners of Maryland, represented by their officers, aired their apprehensions and fear on the presence of cellsites near their village.
But health officials told the residents that radio frequency radiation being emitted by cellsite similar to that being constructed in the area has no effect to the human health.
Mendoza explained that radio frequency radiation is classified as non-ionizing and has no effect on the health of humans.
The residents disclosed that no public hearing was made before the barangay council approved the granting of clearance to the telecom company to construct a cell antenna.
In 2004, the Mabalacat Municipal Council passed a resolution suspending the issuance of permits to telecom firms for the construction of cellsites.
They also lashed on Barangay Sapang Biabas chairman Teban Liwanag for allowing the passage of a barangay council resolution approving the construction of a cellsite in the area.
The cell site is being built at a parcel of land owned by Liwanag.
But Liwanag claimed that no objections were aired when they were conducting a public hearing regarding the cellsite construction.
He added that the telecom firm secured necessary documents from concerned government agencies like the DOH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Air Transportation Office, and the local government.
Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales instructed Municipal Planning and Development Council head Rosano Pacquia to assist the residents regarding their plight.
Morales nonetheless said the will of the people should be considered.
The cellsite tower is already erected and its antennas were already installed but the whole system is not yet operational, it was learned.
