La Trinidad Building Official Stops Construction of Dito Telecommunity Cell Tower

January 23, 2022 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Without a necessary building permit, Dito Telecommunity Corp. was ordered to immediately stop its on-going construction of a cell tower in Sitio Eastern Buyagan, Poblacion here.
“Please be informed that an inspection conducted by this office on January 12,2022 of your building/structure/construction and premises located at Buyagan,La Trinida, Benguet reveals the following violations/s of the National Building Code (PD1096), and its Implementing Rules and Regulations,” stated in the Notice of Violation signed by Benedict Pineda, Municipal Engineer of this town.
It cited grave violation – Erecting, constructing, altering, repairing, moving, converting, installing or demolishing a private or public building/structure if without building/demolition permit.
“In view of the foregoing, you are hereby directed to stop your construction activities immediately and correct the aforementioned violation,” the order stated.
Dito Telecommunity was also ordered to pay an administrative fine of P10k and the company was directed to contact the local building office within three days upon receipt of the Notice. Failure to do so appropriated action will be lodged against the company.
As of press time Dito Telecommunity has not given their side regarding the Notice of Violation despite efforts to contact through a certain Lester Meneses Dela Pena (SAQ Huawei Technologies Phil –Dito Telecom Project) though the latter said he “ will refer the matter to higher ups.”
On December 10, 2021, Dito Telecommunity Corp. was granted a Certificate of Zoning Compliance (CZC) for its mobile cellular cell site (Poblacion, La Trinidad), a day (Dec. 9,2021) after its application was filed.
The Certificate of Zoning Compliance was issued by Emerson Tabernero, Zoning Administrator, Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC). And it was noted by Vicente Perez, Jr., of the MPDC.
On January 5 (2022), Engr. Pineda gave out his 2nd Endorsement and returned to Engr. Perez “in connection to the opposition of residents to the proposed construction of a Dito tower at the property of Ken-win A. Keith located at Eastern Buyagan (La Trinidad).”
Pineda gave out four comments and recommended that the “zoning issue” be deliberated by the town’s zoning board and to make appropriate action.
The following are the comments of Engr. Pineda:
* The building permit application of Dito Telecommunity Corp for the cell tower is still undergoing technical evaluation;
* The issue on the protest appears to be focused on the location of the project; one of the conditions in the issued locational clearance for the project is that any complaint against its location found valid after due hearing shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of the decision on zoning;
*The oppositors is implying that the site of the proposed construction of the tower is nonconforming as they alleging that is located within a residential area, among others.
In an interview, Mayor Romeo Salda said “ it is their job to do it” (in the vernacular),pointing actions taken by his subordinates.
In fact , on Dec 22, 2021, the Office of the Mayor referred the “issue” to Engr. Perez, based on the letter by Manuel Amoy, Jr. Punong Barangay of Poblacion, who endorsed the “protest letter” by the residents of (Sitio Eastern Buyagan) regarding the proposed construction of Dito tower.
Affected residents expressed dismay to Punong Barangay Amoy after the latter allegedly failed to consult them on the project, and also failed to meet them when they sought for a meeting to clarify the action taken by their barangay official.
DITO TELECOMMUNITY
In an earlier interview with Dela Pena, claimed he tried to consult the residents regarding the proposed project, but they (residents) failed to attend which the latter strongly denied. De la Pena further claimed that the project is covered by the so-called Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.
He added documents showed that the project was approved by the local government unit of (La Trinidad) and other government agencies.
Based on obtained datas, circulated in (La Trinidad)- Dito Telecommunity’s project “aim to improve phone signal and internet speed in the country, but for us to do that we would need to construct cell towers.
On this matter, we would like to inform you that we have identified in your Barangay as a suitable location to build one.”
The Dito’s data further stated: “it has conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation of potential sites for Cell tower and has determined that there are no suitable alternative sites in the vicinity aside from the chosen cell locations.”
Primo Agatep/ABN