Ozamiz officials nix telecom cell site

OZAMIZ CITY—Members of the city council have turned down an application for the construction of a cell site by telecommunications giant Smart Communications.

The councilors disapproved the request after finding out that the cell site has already been operational since October last year.

The cell site is located in Purok 5 of Barangay Tabid, a rural village some 10 kilometers from here.

The request passed first reading and was referred to the committee on public utilities.

Councilor Taryn Mecaros lamented that the operation of the Smart cell site was a big insult on the city council.

Councilor Ma. Constancia Lim even suggested that the company be given notice to stop the cell site’s operation and eventually have it demolished as it constituted “an illegal improvement” in the absence of the council’s approval.

Lim has long batted for some clearance from health authorities that residents living around the facility are safe from any danger of sickness arising from radiation waves.

Apart from the Smart cell site, another one operated by Globe Telecommunications is located in Purok 4 in the same barangay. Ryan D. Rosauro, Philippine Daily Inquirer