Amelia underwent two major surgeries in the last four years to remove cancer cells from her body.
Celocia, who had her right breast removed, blamed a Globe Telecom cell site built two meters away from her house in Calvary Hills, barangay Apas as having caused her illness.
“There is no history of cancer in the family therefore my sickness was caused by constant exposure to radiation being emitted by the cell site,” she said in yesterday’s public hearing in the Cebu City Council.
The hearing was held on a long-running complaint by 500 families of Calvary Hills in barangay Apas protesting the presence of two cell sites of Globe and Sun Cellular as a health risk.
About 40 residents showed up led by Apas barangay chairman Ramil Ayuman who said about 20 Calvary Hills residents are now sick with cancer.
However, Agnette Peralta, director of the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology of the Department of Health (DOH) central office, said radio frequency radiation from cell sites has not been proven to cause cancer.
Not conclusive
“Up to now, there is no conclusive evidence that exposure to radio frequency radiation causes cancer,” she said.
Peralta said the UK Health Protection Report of 2012 and the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority report were unable to conclude that radio frequency radiation coming from cell sites are cancer-causing.
She said so far, medical studies only proved that exposure to cell site radiation increases thermal or body heat.
Peralta said there is even a bigger possibility that continued use of cellular phones is more hazardous than living near cell sites.
She said radio frequency emanating from cellphones comes in closer contact to the brain during voice calls.
Cell site antennae, on the other hand, are elevated at least 35 meters from ground level.
Peralta said it would be up to the Cebu City Council to decide on stricter regulations on cell sites.
Regulatory mechanism
“As a national government agency, we don’t intervene with local government policies,” Peralta said.
DOH officials were called to determine the radiation and power density level of the two cell sites in the area and determine if these are safe to residents.
The DOH central office has a radio frequency radiation measuring device.
“The body has its own regulatory mechanism. The limit (of radiation that the body can tolerate) is determined when the body can’t cope anymore,” Peralta said.
Ma. Leonore Teves, legal counsel for Globe, said the company built and operates 100 cell sites in various parts of Cebu City.
She said no Apas resident has filed a complaint against their company.
Denial
Councilor Alvin Dizon asked Teves if Globe would agreed to relocate their cell site away from the residential area in Calvary Hills.
“This (transfer) would entail expense that the company is trying to cut down on,” Teves replied.