DAET,Camarines Norte -- About l42 residents of Barangay 7 here signed a petition questioning the installation of the Smart tower in Purok 5, Roseville Subdivision, without notice to barangay folks and members of the barangay council.

Caption: SMART TOWERS. Retired PNP Insp. Francisco Luceña (center) points at the controversial structure to Barangay Kagawad Cacho (left) and an onlooker.

        Reports reaching the Bicol Mail through retired PNP Insp. Francisco Lucena Sr. revealed that in December, 2007, showed that the residents were surprised to find the communication structure in the compound of one Riza Andrade, a few yards away from their houses.

        Some of the petitioners from Purok 5 and 7 claimed that their security is at risk for cellsite towers are targets of the members of the NPA alongside the soft earth holding the structure and radiation emitted in the surroundings.

        Claiming that the said network provider has no mayor’s permit and cannot present clearances from the DENR, ATO, and DOH, they were likewise irked by the noncoordination of their Barangay Captain Norvell Manaog Jr. with them.

        According to Manaog, the controversial column was only temporary and would be dismantled after June 4, 2008 per agreement with Engr. Noel Jesus V. Lizardo, supervisor of Smart Communication, Inc. in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

        He denied that there was irregularity in his transaction with Smart and the only concession he had was that it would provide an internet capability to the barangay without cost.

        Manaog criticized the local media for raising the issue between the residents and the construction of the tower which annoyed the KBP chapter in the province.