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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC asks Pres Marcos, national gov't offices, LGUs, contractors to answer petition vs 'perennial' flood problems

SC asks Pres Marcos, national gov't offices, LGUs, contractors to answer petition vs 'perennial' flood problems

Published Oct 16, 2025 07:14 pm
The Supreme Court (SC) has asked the government led by the Office of the President, local government units (LGUs), and private contractors to answer a petition for a Writ of Kalikasan to address the country’s perennial flood problems.
A Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy for the protection of a person’s right to a healthy environment as mandated by the Constitution.
The SC’s resolution was dated Sept. 30, 2025 but a copy was made available only late Thursday afternoon, Oct. 16, by the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson.
The resolution directed the respondents to comment on the petition, a taxpayers’ suit filed by several persons led by lawyer Edna Selloriquez Pana, within 10 days from notice.
Named respondents in the petition were the Office of the President, represented by President Marcos; the Senate; House of Representatives; Department of Budget and Management, Department of Public Works and Highways; Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Metro Manila Development Authority; River Basin Control Office; all LGUs; and contractors who awarded the government’s flood control projects.
In the petition, the SC was asked to direct the President to disclose the master plan for the country’s flood control.
They also asked the SC to direct the DILG and the LGUs to conduct a comprehensive clean-up, clearing and de-clogging of silted rivers and streams, canals and embankments, drainage systems and other ways that contribute to the flooding problem.
They criticized what they described as massive corruption and negligence on the part of government officials who are supposed to enforce and implement flood control projects.
“The havoc or mayhem created by either malfeasance, mis-feasance and non-feasance, as well as the absolute negligence and deliberate corruption of those who are supposed to dispense, enforce and implement projects and programs funded by taxpayers’ money are unconscionable and shocking to the senses of the global humanity,” they told the SC.
Finally, they asked the SC to order the prosecution of those who took advantage of the country’s “flawed flood control systems to accumulate ill-gotten wealth.”
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