MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has stopped the C5 road extension project that would connect Northern and Southern Luzon expressways.

In a four-page resolution, the high court en bank ordered Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Diosdado Jose Allado and Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to temporarily stop the construction.

The high court issued a status quo order after village chief Beda Torrecampo from Matandang Balara, Quezon City urged the high court to stop the construction because it would cut off water supply to 8,000 households.

The high court also gave MWSS and DPWH up to Monday, July 6 before 2:30 to submit a comment. The high court set the case for oral argument.

The project is part of the President Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5) extension in line with the order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to connect the two expressways and eventually the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road in Las Piñas City.

The government said the project sought to form a metropolitan loop that would speed up the flow of goods and services.