MANILA, Philippines—A novel legal move designed to make local government officials and concerned government offices follow the country’s environmental laws was launched Friday just in time for World Environment Day.

Concerned citizens, environmental groups, the youth and non-government organizations (NGOs) under the banner of the Global Legal Action on Climate Change (GLACC) can now file petitions with their local leaders on any environmental issue affecting their community, like the protection of water sources and the collection of garbage, environment lawyer Antonio Oposa told reporters.

Oposa said if there was no response from the officials concerned in 15 days, the citizens can take legal action against them.

“Our purpose is to inquire into the status of compliance regarding environmental laws. We hope this will trigger political will where it is lacking or absent. We will use nothing except the force and power of the law,” he stressed.

Oposa added that the country already has enough laws on environmental issues like droughts, floods, the collection of rainwater and garbage, marine conservation and the establishment of transport systems that would cause less environmental damage.

“Where our leaders fail, let us take action. It can be done. Failure is not an option. The time for talking has ended,” the lawyer said.

Oposa, however, pointed out that they were not out to confront the government on environmental issues but to work hand-in-hand with them.

Government agencies and local governments can ask the GLACC for technical assistance, he added.

“We are not threatening anyone. We would like to extend the hand of cooperation. We can volunteer experts to help. But if they don’t answer our petitions, sila na bahala (they are on their own),” he said.

Among the laws that can be cited in the suits they could file are the Anti-Red Tape law, the Code of Conduct for Government Employees, among others.

Oposa said around 200 such petitions were set to be filed Friday in different provinces, including 21 petitions in Davao, 33 in Laguna, 35 in Batangas, 40 in Iloilo and 45 in Cebu.

Lawyer Galahad Pe Benito said he and other groups filed 12 petitions in Ilocos Sur to make local governments in around 20 municipalities adhere to the law on solid waste management (Republic Act 9003).

He added that they are ready to file criminal and administrative cases against local officials if they do not act on their petitions.