Environmentalists, lawyers, and members of the transport sector filed on Thursday a petition before the Supreme Court seeking the issuance of a “writ of kalikasan” to hold the government accountable for environmental damage caused by defective flood control projects.
At a press briefing, lawyer Ariel Inton urged the government to compel contractors to repair the substandard projects.
“These are substandard or ghost projects that have already been billed and paid for. We are asking that they be redone without new government funding, because they have long been funded but never properly delivered,” he said.
He underscored that responsible individuals must be directly held accountable in the form of compensatory damages.
The petitioners cited the Constitution, which mandates the State to “protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”
Named as respondents are the Office of the President, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and other agencies linked to the projects.
Petitioners asked the Court to order a nationwide cleanup, disclosure of the master flood control plan, completion of waterway rehabilitation, and prosecution of those involved in the flawed system.
