REMOVAL of a telecommunication tower near the city market may cause more harm than good.
Globe Telecom Inc., General Counsel Froilan Castelo said the removal of the tower at Upper Market Subdivision will result to the degradation of mobile services to the detriment of other customers within the 5-kilometer radius area.
Debunking radiation fears, Castelo also pointed out Globe cell sites have been issued radiation-safety certificates by the Department of Health, proof that radio frequency signals coming from such facilities do not pose any adverse health impact.
“At the minimum, we get four permits from the Department of Health each time we put up a cell site. This ensures our facilities adhere to global health standards. These radiation-safety certificates should allay concerns over alleged health hazard that most HOAs are concerned about. If we really want first-world internet connectivity, we should be able to provide reliable internet services in every home at least within the metropolis.”
Local village chief Mathew Fanged has earlier sought the demolition of the tower citing concerns in health and safety with residents fearing its collapse as well as a number cases of cancer which the community believe can be related to the tower amidst their homes.
Castelo said radiation-safety certificates issued by DOH are based on guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on maximum human exposures to radio frequency fields.
The company, in a statement sent to Sun.Star Baguio is seeking cooperation from homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to facilitate building cell sites to improve internet services and lamented despite radiation safety certificates from DOH and assurances from the World Health Organization, several villages have lobbied for the removal of cell sites in their areas, citing health risks.
Villages include Sitio Calvary Hills in Barangay Apas, Cebu City, Green Meadows Subdivision in Quezon City including Baguio City.
The Globe tower stands inside a private lot owned by the Salango family who issued a renewable 10-year lease agreement to the company. The family has been informed of the fears of the community, however, they have not, to date, revoked the lease agreement, which has been in effect since 1996.
Castelo added studies by the WHO revealed radio frequency signals coming from cell sites do not pose any adverse health effects as these are classified by WHO as non-ionizing, which means there is no adverse impact to human and animal cells.
Other low frequency devices that emit non-ionizing radio signals include transistor radios, microwave ovens and baby monitors.
Fanged has since asked the National Telecommunications Commission to cancel permits for the Globe tower for the welfare of the community.
