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Advocates Philippines
SC Sets Oral Arguments For Manila Bay Cleanup Case
The Supreme Court of the Philippines announced that it will conduct oral arguments in the landmark case of G.R. No. 171947-48, pitting the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other government agencies (petitioners) against the Concerned Residents of Manila Bay and Akbayan Citizen's Action Party (respondents and intervenor). The case revolves around the long-standing issue of cleaning up, rehabilitating, and preserving Manila Bay.
In a significant move, the Supreme Court has mandated that all relevant government agencies must appear before the court to provide essential information regarding their efforts to address pollution in Manila Bay. This directive comes as part of the ongoing legal battle dating back to 2008 when the Supreme Court initially ordered the agencies to take action.
By September 30, 2023, the involved government bodies, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Budget and Management, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, are required to submit crucial information to the Supreme Court. This information includes:
• Measurement benchmarks of pollution levels in Manila Bay.
• Current government strategies in place to meet their mandate to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and to restore and maintain its waters to SB level (Class B Sea waters per Water Classification Tables under Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] Order No. 34 [1990]) for various recreational activities.
• Realistic targets for the next five years in relation to Manila Bay's environmental restoration.
• Detailed assessments of ongoing reclamations and their respective environmental impacts, with a particular focus on pollution.
This development comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2008 order, instructing these government agencies to take action in the Manila Bay cleanup, followed by a 2011 order directing the execution of specific directives to implement the 2008 decision.
In a significant move, the Supreme Court has mandated that all relevant government agencies must appear before the court to provide essential information regarding their efforts to address pollution in Manila Bay. This directive comes as part of the ongoing legal battle dating back to 2008 when the Supreme Court initially ordered the agencies to take action.
By September 30, 2023, the involved government bodies, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Budget and Management, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, are required to submit crucial information to the Supreme Court. This information includes:
• Measurement benchmarks of pollution levels in Manila Bay.
• Current government strategies in place to meet their mandate to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and to restore and maintain its waters to SB level (Class B Sea waters per Water Classification Tables under Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] Order No. 34 [1990]) for various recreational activities.
• Realistic targets for the next five years in relation to Manila Bay's environmental restoration.
• Detailed assessments of ongoing reclamations and their respective environmental impacts, with a particular focus on pollution.
This development comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2008 order, instructing these government agencies to take action in the Manila Bay cleanup, followed by a 2011 order directing the execution of specific directives to implement the 2008 decision.
Sep 1, 2023
