Five students have asked the Supreme Court to stop tree cutting along Roxas Boulevard and Quirino Avenue for the Southern Access Link Expressway project.
Joaquin Bautista, Elisha Zantua, Benjamin Francia, Paul Callorina and Hannah Guerra filed the petition on Thursday, July 23. They seek a temporary environmental protection order against further tree cutting for the SALEx project backed by SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corp. The students also challenge the constitutionality of Section 23 of the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines.
The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41 had denied their earlier request for a temporary environmental protection order. The students named the court judge, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the project company as respondents. Their main case remains pending before the trial court.
The DENR stated that the tree cutting permits followed environmental review, technical assessment and consultations. Public concerns have focused on the loss of mature trees along the routes and reports of continued activity despite a voluntary project suspension by the company.
