City Council to probe residents’ claim blaming cell towers for cancer cases

Are the cell sites in lower Calvary barangay Apas causing cancer? (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

THE Cebu City Council is investigating reports on the prevalence of cancer cases among residents living near telecommunications towers.

The council directed the City Health Department (CHD) to verify reports that a number of residents in barangays Apas in the north district and Buhisan in the south died of cancer while others continue to suffer from related ailments.

They also set a June 18 public hearing to hear what the Departments of Health (DOH), Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the officials and residents of the two barangays have to say on the issue.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo said one City Hall employee from Buhisan recently lost her husband to cancer.

“This is something that alarms us and deserves to be looked into,” Carillo said in last Wednesday session.

Councilor Nestor Archival, chairman of the council’s energy, transportation, communication and other utilities committee, reported the request of residents of sitio Calvary in barangay Apas to transfer two cell sites away from their homes.

In February, barangay chairman Ramil Ayuman forwarded to the council a petition for the transfer of the Sun and Globe cell sites in their area.

Debate

The petition was signed by 117 members of the Calvary Hills Apas Residents Association (CHARO). A copy of their petition was also sent to DOTC.

Archival’s report said that the Globe tower was built in the area in 2000 while the Sun tower was built in 2004 despite opposition from the affected residents.

He said the health risks posed by telecom towers has been the subject of debate.

Archival said Dr. Agnette Peralta, head of the DOH Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research, should appear before the council.

He said Ayuman was not yet barangay chairman when the telecommunication towers were built.