Petition filed vs gov't for environmental neglect, flooding

Lawyers, academics, and environmental advocates have filed a petition to the Supreme Court seeking a Writ of Kalikasan against the Philippine government.

The petition names President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Office of the President, Congress, and various government agencies as respondents, along with government contractors.

Petitioners accuse officials of "long years of neglect and willful destruction" leading to environmental degradation and worsened flooding.

They cite "ghost projects, substandard dikes, collapsing bridges, and clogged waterways" as evidence of systemic failure in flood control projects.

The group urged the Supreme Court to compel the president to exercise control over government agencies to order a massive environmental cleanup and disclose or create a master plan for flood control.

A writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy for individuals whose right to a balanced and healthful ecology is violated or threatened.