BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Dito Telcommunity was issued final work stoppage orders to halt the further construction of its cellular towers in Barangays Alijis and Taculing, Bacolod City.
This was confirmed yesterday by Office of the Building Official head Nestor Velez, who said the orders were enforced by the City Legal Office last week.
Velez said the issuance of the orders was an offshoot of a follow-up inspection they have conducted after receiving information from nearby residents that the towers in Purok Himaya in Brgy. Alijis and Doña Juliana Subdivision in Brgy. Taculing were already structurally erected.
He said they had earlier issued notice of violations against the construction of these towers for the failure of Dito to secure permits and yet the construction continued.
Velez stressed that for the meantime, Dito cannot resume the construction of their towers until such time that they can secure building permits together with their compliance with other requirements.
As to the towers of Globe Teleco Inc. at Hermelinda Homes and Gardenville subdivisions in barangays Mansilingan and Tangub, respectively, no additional violation orders have been issued.
Velez said Globe had already ceased construction following the first notice of violation issued by OBO.
He said the notices of violation for illegal construction will be the basis of OBO in computing the percentage of the surcharges to be collected from the telecommunication firms.
Aside from the towers mentioned, OBO has not received complaints against the construction of other cellular towers in Bacolod.
If Dito continues to construct their towers despite the final notice of violation, the CLO will be the ones to enforce appropriate penalties.*
