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Several groups on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to halt construction of an airport in Bulacan, saying that going ahead with the project would violate environmental laws.
Oceana led fishermen and civic groups in filing a Kalikasan warrant petition against the San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Aerocity airport project in Bulakan, Bulacan.
The group of fishermen was represented by Teodoro Bacon and Rodel Alvarez. Among the petitioners were the vice president of Oceana, Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Roger Martínez of the Archdiocese of the city of San José del Monte, and Aniban of the president of the Agricultural Workers, Renato de la Cruz.
The group attacked the project, particularly the recovery of Manila Bay, which would affect their livelihood.
A kalikasan court order is a legal remedy that protects a person’s constitutional right to a healthy environment. The writing is supported by article II, section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “the state will protect and promote the right of the people to a balanced and healthy ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”
The named respondents are the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Roy Cimatu, the Regional Director of the Office of Environmental Management of Region 3 Wilson Trajeco, the Secretary of Transportation Arturo Tugade, the President and Executive Director of San Miguel Aerocity, Ramon Ang , and the President and CEO of Silvertides, Hercules V. Galicia.
SMC Aerocity, with its subsidiary-contractor Silvertides Holdings, plans to build a state-of-the-art airport to be called New Manila International Airport.
“We have to continue working together in the protection, rehabilitation and conservation of Manila Bay, not only for its economic importance and contribution to national food security, and for its historical, cultural and aesthetic value, but also to make the ecosystems and people be resilient. to the impacts of climate change ”, Estenzo-Ramos in a statement.
SMC Aerocity had said the project would ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila and address the country’s need for a modern airport.
The company said it launched a multi-river system dredging project that includes P1 billion cleanup of the Tullahan-Tinajeros river system to reduce flooding in Bulacan province.
“The planting of 200,000 mangroves to further protect coastal areas throughout the province and central Luzon is also underway,” said SMC.
He said that he commissioned a foreign company to carry out a comprehensive and independent study of the possible environmental impacts of the project.
SMC questioned the involvement of Bacon and Alvarez in filing the petition.
“Both have expressed to SMC that they have not had any contact with Oceana for some time. They do not even know that they are among the petitioners. On many occasions, Mr. Bacon in particular has expressed his appreciation to SMC for providing him and his family with the financial means, as well as all the help that he and his neighbors needed to build their new concrete houses on the ground. the company helped them find. It was also SMC who ensured that the land was titled for each family and that their homes had access to water and electricity, ”he said.
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