SC issues ‘kalikasan’ writ vs Zambales mine project

The Supreme Court has issued a writ of kalikasan against a mining project of DMCI Holdings Inc. in Sta. Cruz town, Zambales province, which residents claim resulted in the destruction of a land formation that has protected their communities.

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said the court en banc referred the case to the Court of Appeals to conduct hearings, receive evidence and render judgment.

The petitioner, Agham party-list, through its representative, Angelo Palmones, said DMCI cut and leveled the land formation in Barangay Bolitoc, Sta. Cruz, and created a man-made foreshore area for the establishment of a port for its mining operations.

Aside from DMCI, others named respondents were the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau, and the Philippine Ports Authority.

In the case, Palmones said the leveling of the land formation led to the gradual destruction of a strip of land that served as a protective barrier for Zambales and Pangasinan provinces against floods, typhoons and sea surges.