national

Tower projects halted

The Municipal Council of Panama yesterday authorized Municipal Works and Construction Director Jaime Salas to suspend the processing and approval of permits for the installation of telecommunication, radio and television towers.

The suspension will last pending a meeting between the council and officials from ASEP, the government agency that regulates public services.

Residents in several communities across the country have protested the installation of cell phone towers, saying they are dangerous and need to be better regulated. Those protests prompted yesterday's action by the Municipal Council.

ASEP officials conducted an inspection yesterday of two cellular antennas in Cerro Viento, and found that the level of radiation being emitted by the them was within international safety standards.