The Supreme Court INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines –The Supreme Court has stopped the government from pushing through with the construction of the Common Station project in front of the Trinoma Mall.
In a two-page resolution, the high court’s first division said the restraining order was effective immediately until further orders from the court.
The Common Station will connect three urban transit lines: the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1), the Metro Rail Transit III (MRT-3), and the future MRT-7, which will run from the Common Station to Bulacan via Commonwealth Avenue.
It was supposed to be constructed in front of Trinoma Mall which, according to petitioner SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) violated a 2009 memorandum of agreement with Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) that it should be constructed in front of SM City North Edsa.
SMPHI also argued that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) approved the location during the previous administration, or on July 7, 2009. In exchange, SMPHI paid LRTA P200 Million as naming rights.
The high court, in the same ruling, ordered both LRTA and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to comment within 10 days on SMPI’s petition.