| | 
CELLSITE
OPPOSITION. Residents of barangay La Paz, Cortes town put up placards outside
their homes along the highway to object the ongoing cellsite tower construction
(lower foto) of Globe Telecom even as the barangay council advised it to cease
and desist. | | Barangay
La Paz officials in Cortes town unanimously agreed to revoke a previous resolution
allowing Globe Telecom to construct a cellsite tower during its barangay session
last Friday despite legal ramifications that might arise against the telecommunications
giant.
Meanwhile, construction of the cellsite tower continues even as
La Paz barangay captain Antolin Coyoca advised Globe and its contractor, in a
letter dated November 6, to suspend the construction due to the strong protest
being waged by residents.
Another letter, dated November 14, was sent
to Globe by Coyoca, informing them of the result of a |
barangay
assembly that overwhelmingly voted, 211-32, for the revocation of the resolution
sanctioning the Globe cellsite tower construction.Beforehand,
a cease-and-desist order (CDO) was issued by Cortes town Mayor Jasmin Balistoy
to Globe but was withdrawn three days after its issuance. | | | The
lady mayor is currently in Singapore.
In
his letter to Globe, Coyoca said the barangay council can do nothing more but
"bow down to the will of the people."
Residents
strongly opposing the Globe cellsite reiterated their appeal during last Friday's
barangay council session led by Coyoca.
In
their petition, La Paz residents, mainly from Purok-3, stated that the cellsite
tower is being constructed in a residential area posing health hazards to nearby
residents. |
Moreover,
they claimed that there was no proper consultation regarding the project as the
La Paz barangay council previously approved a resolution granting Globe to install
the cellsite tower in three proposed lots which are not situated in residential
areas. The
lots were indicated during a barangay assembly held last August 11.
However,
residents were surprised when Globe's contractor built the cellsite tower in a
lot which was not the area specified during the barangay consultations and already
located near residences.
During
the barangay session, Coyoca expressed fear that Globe might sue the barangay
officials if they rescinded the resolution. However, council members argued that
they could not turn their backs to the people who put them in office while they
are also confident settlement can be reached among the stakeholders. |
