LT Vice Mayor Awingan urges barangay consultation

February 13, 2022 Provincial

Evaluation Report-DITO Telecom tower located in a residential area
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan strongly urged barangay officials of Buyagan, Poblacion to conduct a public consultation regarding the sentiments of its constituents on the construction of a DITO Telecom tower in their area.
In an exclusive interview, Vice Mayor Awingan said, “while we respect the program of the national government to fast-track the construction of telecommunication towers (fiber network), we also respect the sentiments of local residents.” Awingan has clarified that “such issues, it should be settled in the barangay”.
He further said that barangay officials could invite officials from the Office of the Municipal Engineering, Zoning, Planning, and offices of the
national government during the public consultations.
The barangay officials could come up with the necessary indorsement, certification of no objection for the establishment of a facility in the area, Awingan said, emphasizing the purpose of the Municipal Council Resolution No 284-2020.
Based on the obtained Resolution (284-2020) states: 1) Barangays to make sure that all affected parties, houses and vacant lot owners in the
construction of cell site towers and similar equipment should be invited during the consultation; And 2) The Municipal Eng’g Office and the Municipal Planning and Development Office should require all adjacent property owners to execute a letter of no objection to the installation of cell site and similar equipment.
Evaluation Report – Construction of DITO Tower in a Residential Area The construction of a DITO Telecom tower is situated in a residential area of Buyagan, Poblacion (La Trinidad).
Based on a obtained data from the Municipal Planning and Development of this town, the Evaluation Report – Project and Site Zoning Classification showed that the DITO Tower is located in a “Residential” with a lot area of 2,461 square meters, and with a building area of 64 square meters.
The Evaluation report was prepared on December 10, 2021 by David Ryan Abobo and noted by Emerson Tabernero. The Evaluation Report also showed that among the basis for evaluation and recommended decision include Ordinance No. 13-2016 s 2016 ratified under S.P. Resolution No. 16-498 s.2016, PD 93, EO 648 and LOI 709.
DITO Telecom claims…
Based on obtained paper, circulated in the area states – 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 data further stated: “ Throughout the site process, DITO has taken special care to ensure that the proposed tower is strategically located to maximize the distance to residentially zoned lands in the area, while ensuring that the quality of signal strength is maintained.”
NOTICE OF VIOLATION- NO BUILDING PERMIT
Earlier, Dito Telecommunity Corp. was ordered to immediately stop its on-going construction of cell tower in the said barangay. “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 Trinidad, 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.
“In view of the foregoing, you are hereby directed to stop your construction activities immediately and correct the aforementioned violation,” the order stated.
Primo Agatep/ABN