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EMB XI reviewing sanitary landfills in Davao Region

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Management Bureau Region (EMB) XI started reviewing sanitary landfills in the region following the trash slide incident at the Binaliw Sanitary Landfill in Cebu City.

“While the incident occurred outside Region XI’s jurisdiction, DENR XI has taken proactive steps within the region to identify and address potential risks in sanitary landfill operations,” the agency said.

In a statement, the agency, which is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region, said the move ensures landfills comply with established standards to protect public safety and environmental integrity.

To ensure compliance, EMB XI has conducted on-site inspections of all Category 4 sanitary landfills within the region. 

The agency conducted inspections covering regulatory compliance, landfill and slope integrity, waste containment systems, and water quality sampling to assess possible environmental impacts.

EMB XI also issued formal notices to local government units (LGUs) operating sanitary landfills, reminding them of their responsibilities under Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. 

“LGUs were directed to closely monitor landfill conditions, ensure the integrity of engineering and environmental control measures, undertake corrective actions when necessary, and submit reports on the current status of their sanitary landfills,” the agency said.

Apart from Category 4 landfills, all categories of sanitary landfills will undergo follow-up validation activities to verify compliance and risk-mitigation measures.

The Davao Regional Ecology Center is set to convene on Feb. 5, 2026, to establish a multi-sectoral monitoring team to assess overall compliance of the landfills. The monitoring team will also assess compliance, including occupational safety standards for waste workers to prevent similar incidents in Binaliw Sanitary Landfill.

DENR XI reiterated that they are ready to provide technical guidance and regulatory support to ensure that environmental safeguards are fully observed.

“DENR XI assures the public of its sustained vigilance and unwavering commitment to preventing environmental incidents and safeguarding communities and the environment,” it stressed.

On Jan. 8, a garbage landslide occurred at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, where a large pile collapsed, burying workers and structures. The incident claimed the lives of 38 people and injured 18 others.

The DENR issued a cease-and-desist order against the dump’s private operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. 

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EnvironmentNews

DENR XI completes 2026 Asian Waterbird census, lists 20K birds, 52 species

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XI, through its Conservation and Development Division-Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (CDD-PAMBCS), successfully conducted the 

The 2026 Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) recorded a total of 20,620 individual birds, representing 52 species, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-XI (DENR XI) reported.

The CDD-PAMBCS conducted the monitoring from Jan. 3 to 18, 2026.

The activity covered nine AWC sites across the region, including Barangay Magnaga in Pantukan, Davao de Oro; Cambaleon, Governor Generoso, and Banaybanay in Davao Oriental; Panabo, La Paz–Carmen, Libuganon, and Busaon in Davao del Norte; Malalag and Padada in Davao del Sur; and the Davao River (Bucana) in Davao City.

DENR reported  a sighting of the Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini), a critically endangered species known as the “Bird of the Legend.” 

The Chinese Crested Tern was first recorded along the Panabo Coast in 2018. It was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in the early 2000s.

“The species has an estimated global population of only about 100 individuals, making it one of Asia’s rarest and most threatened seabirds,” DENR reported.

The census confirmed at least two individuals in the Panabo–Carmen wetlands. DENR said this is the eighth consecutive year of occurrence in the area.

Birders Pete Simpson and Bram Demeulemeester made the initial observations in December 2025, with subsequent sightings in January.

The DENR-Cenro Panabo team recorded a new sighting on January 28. 

“Continued monitoring is scheduled in February to further document the species presence,” DENR said.

The highest bird count was recorded in the Panabo–Carmen Wetlands, with 7,358 individuals, while the lowest counts were observed in Davao River (Bucana) and Magnaga, each with 84 individuals. 

“The current birdcount demonstrates an upward trend, indicating a habitat suitability to the migratory birds,” DENR stated.

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News

IDIS blasts planned amendments to Solid Waste Management Act

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) opposed proposals to amend the Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which would have paved the way for local government units to adopt waste-to-energy incineration projects. 

In a statement on Wednesday, IDIS said the move, which was floated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is a “dangerous step backward” and undermines environmental protection, public health, and climate responsibility.

The group stressed RA 9003 has never been fully or faithfully implemented, and amending it now without ensuring its full implementation is both “premature and misleading.”

The mandate of RA 9003 was to shift the country away from disposal-oriented, end-of-pipe solutions and toward sustainable practices, such as waste reduction, segregation at source, reuse, recycling, and composting.

But, even in the ground, barangay-level segregation, the establishment of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), waste reduction at source, composting, and recycling, remain largely neglected in many areas. 

“The persistent failures in solid waste management that the DENR itself acknowledges are not failures of the law. They are failures of implementation, political will, and accountability, particularly at the level of local government units,” the group stressed.

Allowing incineration, it added, is a false solution to a governance failure.

IDIS cited that a large portion of waste in the country is biodegradable, which cannot be meaningfully used in incineration but instead should be managed through composting and diversion strategies.

“Instead of addressing the root causes of the waste crisis, such as weak enforcement, lack of political will, underfunded local systems, and poor accountability, incineration merely treats waste symptoms while locking communities into expensive, centralized, and environmentally risky infrastructure,” it stressed.

The group stated that even modern incineration technologies generate toxic emissions, hazardous ash, and long‑term health threats, which violates and counters the Clean Air Act’s explicit prohibition of polluting incineration.

It maintained that there are gaps, highlighting the urgent need to fully implement RA 9003, rather than amending it.

The group cited that DENR and the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) have not yet published a comprehensive list of Non‑Environmentally Acceptable Products (NEAPs) as required under the act.

The NEAPs are a regulatory tool meant to phase out environmentally harmful products and packaging. which is critical to making the law fully operational. 

The group added that DENR data itself shows that thousands of barangay-level MRFs are non-existent, and waste segregation and diversion remain weak. 

“Amending the law without exhausting its existing, proven solutions undermines the very purpose of the law. The problem is not that the law is outdated. The problem is that it was never properly carried out,” it stressed.

IDIS said investing public funds in incineration would divert resources away from proven, low-cost, community-based solutions, such as waste reduction programs, composting systems, and support for the recycling sector.

The group pointed out that incineration threatens the livelihood of informal waste workers by reducing recyclable materials and centralizing waste management in capital-intensive facilities controlled by private operators.

“A truly just transition in waste management must strengthen, not displace waste workers through formalization, better working conditions, and inclusive zero-waste systems,” it stressed.

IDIS cited the tragic landfill collapse in Cebu City as a wake-up call for stricter enforcement, better planning, and strong oversight, and not as a justification for opening the door to incineration. 

The group calledon the DENR, lawmakers, and local governments to defend the incineration ban under RA 9003 and Clean Air Act, prioritize the full and faithful implementation of ecological solid waste management, publish and enforce the NEAP list mandated under RA 9003, invest in zero-waste, climate-safe, and community-based solutions, and protect the health, livelihoods, and rights of communities and waste workers. 

“Incineration is not progress. Ecological and people-centered waste management is,” the group said.

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CommunityEnvironment

Sec Lotilla Leads Dialogue on Nature-Based Solutions

by Contributor
written by Contributor

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla led a dialogue with leaders from the private sector to advance discussions on policies overseeing forest carbon projects and the operationalization of Article 6 in the country. Member companies of the CarbonPH Coalition and NBS Industry Group participated in the meeting yesterday. Held at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City, the discussions underscored the importance of strong collaboration between government and business to encourage investments in nature-based solutions that help to advance the Philippines’ climate goals.

By working together, the DENR and its partners in the private sector are paving the way for practical and sustainable solutions that protect natural resources, promote socio-economic co-benefits beyond carbon, and ensure a healthier future for generations to come.

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News

EcoWaste Coalition calls for stronger measures to stop lead paint imports

by Contributor
written by Contributor

QUEZON CITY — Confirmatory analyses contracted by the EcoWaste Coalition and undertaken by SGS, a global testing company, verified the presence of toxic lead in 27 paint samples imported from China and Thailand that are offered for sale in the domestic market, including e-commerce sites. Dismayed by this egregious breach of the law, the group called on the authorities to adopt stronger measures to reinforce the lead paint ban and thus protect public health.

As per laboratory test results, the 27 paints representing 11 brands were analyzed to contain lead in excess of 90 parts per million (ppm) making them patently illegal to import, distribute and sell in the Philippines, noting the country’s successful completion of the phase-out deadlines for lead-containing decorative paints in December 2016 and lead-containing industrial paints in December 2019 in accordance with the DENR-issued Chemical Control Order (CCO) banning lead in paints and similar surface coatings.

Of the 27 paints, 19 were analyzed to contain lead above 10,000 ppm of which four had staggering lead concentrations exceeding 100,000 ppm, including two products bearing a “No Pb” pictogram despite evidence to the contrary (one product contains 117,000 ppm and the other has 138,000 ppm). Pb is the chemical symbol for lead from its Latin name plumbum.   

“The discovery of lead in more imported paints sold locally points to the urgent need to enhance enforcement measures to address gaps and ensure that the lead paint ban is effectively implemented for public health and safety,” said Manny Calonzo, campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. “We call on the authorities to jointly carry out such measures, including tightening customs controls, intensifying compliance monitoring, charging and penalizing violators, and nominating lead chromates for listing in the Rotterdam Convention, to reinforce the ban on lead, a multi-system toxicant, in paints and similar surface coatings.”

“We urge the government of the Philippines to join Cameroon, Morocco and Switzerland in advocating for the inclusion of lead chromates in the Rotterdam Convention as the treaty’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure will help in controlling the global trade of this key ingredient in lead paint production,” said Jeiel Guarino, Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaigner, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN).  “If listed, companies that export lead chromates or paints containing them will no longer be allowed to export these goods to a country that has not consented to import them.”

The list of 27 paints found to contain lead includes:

Boston Spray Paint: antirust substrate gray (2,380 ppm);
Collfria Spray Paint: orange red (3,050 ppm);
Colorz Aerosol Spray Paint: medium yellow (57,100 ppm), jade green (35,600  ppm) and flash red (1,900 ppm);
Colorz Chisai Acrylic Spray Paint: canary yellow (56,100 ppm), antirust brown (27,000 ppm), orange red (22,800 ppm), , medium gray (3,790 ppm);
JMJAFA Spray Paint: deep yellow (94,700 ppm);
King Sfon Aerosol Spray: leaf green (62,100 ppm);
Koby Spray Paint: forest green (96,700 ppm);
Nikko Spray All Purpose Quick Drying High Gloss Acrylic: antirust
primer red (8,340 ppm);
Standard Aerosol Spray Paint: medium yellow (182,000 ppm), light green (107,000 ppm);
Standard JR Spray Paint: medium yellow (138,000 ppm), art yellow (117,000 ppm), willow green (79,900 ppm);
Tiger Quick Drying Lacquer Spray Paint: orange (78,000 ppm);
Yatibay Acrylic Spray Paint: blackish green (16,900 ppm); and
YiAD Paint: orange (63,900 ppm), yellow (57,300 ppm), light green (45,500 ppm), green (39,000 ppm), pink (3,560 ppm), blue (5,290 ppm), light sky blue (3,900 ppm).

None of these violative paints is manufactured, imported or distributed by affiliates of the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI), a partner of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, together with the Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc., Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), IPEN and the EcoWaste Coalition.

Coinciding with International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, from October 19 to 25, the EcoWaste Coalition will release an updated Public Notice on Lead-Containing Paints that it has co-published with PPCAI and IPEN to alert and guide consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.

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EnvironmentHealth

EcoWaste Coalition calls on stores to remove illegal lead-containing paints from shelves

by Contributor
written by Contributor


QUEZON CITY — In a bid to uphold the law and protect public health, the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition appealed to socially responsible retail establishments to cease and desist from selling imported paints laden with lead, a potent neurotoxin and endocrine-disrupting chemical banned in paint manufacturing.

The group, a strong advocate for a society free of harm from chemicals and waste, issued the clarion call after monitoring the local sale of leaded spray paints from China and Thailand in at least 47 general merchandise, hardware and home improvement stores in Region III (Bulacan, Pampanga), Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal) and the National Capital Region (12 cities).

According to the investigation conducted by the group from June 10 to Aug. 12, 47  of the 70 stores visited were found selling one or more spray paint brands that have been analyzed to contain lead in excess of 90 parts per million (ppm), the maximum limit set by the Chemical Control Order (CCO) on lead and its compounds.

The CCO promulgated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2013 banned lead-based raw materials in the production of paints and similar surface coatings, and phased out lead-containing decorative paints on Dec. 31, 2016, and lead-containing industrial paints on Dec. 31, 2019.

Among the lead-containing paints found on store shelves were products already flagged by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to their lead content such as the medium yellow JM Spray Paint, canary yellow Koby Spray Paint, grass green and light yellow  Nikko Spray All Purpose Quick Drying High Gloss Acrylic, and Jialing red and orange yellow Standard Aerosol Paint.

The group further found leaded YiAD Paint, an aerosol paint made in China, on sale in some chain stores.  Manufactured in May 2025, this paint prominently features the image and signature of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on the front label.  The former senator has yet to issue a statement disassociating himself from lead-containing YiAD Paint.

“We are appalled by the proliferation of imported lead-containing paints in the domestic market as if the lead paint ban is not in effect,” said Manny Calonzo, campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.  “The unlawful importation has not eased, as evidenced by our discovery of highly leaded paints with 2024 and 2025 as manufacturing dates, which are being offered for sale to consumers who are not informed of the risks.  Government regulators need to flex their muscles and enforce the ban.”

“As for store owners, we appeal to them to shun imported paints unless independently verified as compliant with product safety standards such as the 90 ppm lead content limit. In keeping with their corporate social responsibility, we advise them to ask for third-party certificates of analysis and conformity from their suppliers before making such paints available to their valued customers,” he added.

“To help the Philippines in enforcing the lead paint ban, we request the DENR to nominate lead chromates, the most common lead-based pigments used in paint manufacturing, for listing under the Rotterdam Convention,” suggested Jeiel Guarino, Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaigner, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN).  “An affirmative decision by the Conference of the Parties will list lead chromates and lead paints as hazardous chemicals subject to the treaty’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure.  If listed, companies that export lead chromates or paints containing them will no longer be permitted to export these commodities to a country that has not consented to import them.”

During its market investigation, the EcoWaste Coalition found on the shelves leaded spray paints bearing the names Aeropak, Anton, JM, JMJAFA, King Sfon, Koby, Korona, Nikko, Silvestre, Sinag, Standard, Standard JR, Top Standard, Top Tibay, Yatibay, and YiAD.
 
Based on the studies conducted by the group, the said paint brands have one or more colors containing lead above the 90 ppm limit as per X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and laboratory analyses.

Some of the above named paints can be found in the “Public Notice on Lead-Containing Paints” co-published by the EcoWaste Coalition, Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI) and IPEN to guide consumers and retailers on paint products with lead content.


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BusinessEnvironment

Ayala Group partners with DENR for national greening project

by Contributor
written by Contributor

THE AYALA Group has joined the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in its goal of ensuring the growth and survival of five million trees by 2028, part of efforts to help Philippine forests thrive again.  

In a signing ceremony on Thursday, July 31, Ayala Corporation, ACEN, Ayala Land Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Globe Telecom Inc. committed to supporting the DENR’s Forests for  Life initiative through land allocation, tree planting and maintenance activities.  

“It is only through collaborating with government and similar-minded peers in the private sector that we can truly create a natural environment that every Filipino deserves. May this partnership be a template of many more meaningful engagements with the DENR to advance the welfare of the environment and promote the responsible use of our natural resources,” said Ayala Corporation vice chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

Ayala Group partners with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the Forests for Life initiative,  which aims to revive Philippine forests to restore and protect biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, promote climate resilience, and improve water resources. In photo (L-R): Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David;  Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla; Ayala Corporation vice chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala; Ayala  Corporation chief sustainability and risk officer Jaime Urquijo; and Ayala Corporation executive director for group sustainability and risk management Ma. Victoria Tan.  

Launched in March 2025, the Forests for Life initiative aims to revive the country’s forest cover,  restore biodiversity, improve water resources, reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, and help mitigate the effects of climate change.  

The Philippines currently has only 24 percent of forest cover remaining following centuries of  denudation, said Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla.  

To revive deforested areas, the Environment Department is enlisting the help of private sector partners to plant and ensure the survival of five million trees over the next three years.  

“The DENR’s partnership with the Ayala Group of Companies is a powerful affirmation that sustainable development is a shared responsibility,” Lotilla said.  

“Through the Forests for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028 Program, we are combining science and community stewardship to restore critical ecosystems and secure our future. Together, we are not just planting trees – we are investing in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive growth for generations to come,” he said.  

Forests for Life is well aligned with the Ayala Group’s long-held principles of stewardship and sustainability. It has committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, embedding sustainability in its business operations. It has also prioritized ESG-favorable business transactions, with a total $6.2 billion in sustainable financing as of end 2024.  To learn more about Ayala’s sustainability efforts, visit ayala.com/sustainability. 

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EnvironmentHealth

EcoWaste Coalition and 26 CSOs ask DENR and DTI to regulate toxic metals in water faucets

by Contributor
written by Contributor

Quezon City.  In an urgent request initiated by the EcoWaste Coalition and endorsed by 26 civil society organizations, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) were asked to regulate toxic metals in water faucets after tests indicated alarming levels of lead, as well as cadmium, in the analyzed products.

In separate responses received on July 2, the DTI through the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) and the DENR through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) thanked the EcoWaste Coalition “for (its) continued advocacy in promoting public health and safety” and “for its continued vigilance and support,” assuring the group that their recommendations will be looked into.

Following the discovery of high levels of lead and cadmium in some faucets being sold in the market, the EcoWaste Coalition requested the DTI through the BPS to a) develop mandatory standards limiting lead and cadmium content in faucets and other plumbing fixtures; and b) include faucets in the list of products covered under mandatory certification, along with the appropriate labeling and/or marking requirements.

“Please be assured that your concerns and recommendations are being carefully considered. The BPS will evaluate the matter in coordination with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, in line with its mandate to ensure product quality and consumer safety,” the BPS said.

DENR-EMB informed the EcoWaste Coalition that, “based on (their) records, there are no existing registrants of lead and cadmium manufacturers, specifically for water faucets and other fixtures.”

“We will be coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) for the possible issuance of public advisory concerning old lead pipes, fixtures with heavy metals content on the health effects on the general public in relation to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Further, we have taken note of your policy recommendations, and we will further review and coordinate this with other stakeholders,” the EMB said.

In line with the group’s advocacy to protect human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals, the EcoWaste Coalition purchased 27 assorted faucets from 10 general merchandise and hardware stores in Manila City and from five online stores and had them analyzed for chemicals of concern.  The samples were obtained from May 18 to 22 for P81 to P320 each. The products had inadequate to zero labeling information. 

The group screened the faucets for heavy metals using an Olympus Vanta M Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), a handheld analytical device that can identify materials and elements without destroying the sample.

Based on the XRF screening results, 19 of the 27 faucets screened positive for lead and/or cadmium at levels exceeding the limits under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances or RoHS of the European Union, which are 1,000 and 100 parts per million (ppm) for lead and cadmium, respectively.  Also, the levels of lead found on the 19 faucets exceeded the 0.25 percent (equivalent to 2,500 ppm) limit for lead in faucets under the US Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act.

The group then chose five samples with high lead content for confirmatory analysis by an independent private laboratory. According to the laboratory tests, the five samples contained lead in the range of 60,400 ppm to 76,100 ppm, making them non-compliant to the EU and US limits. 

The investigation conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition was triggered by the product recall order issued by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) last May 15 against nine brands of China-made faucets, “which were tested and found to contain  lead that can leach into water at levels that can be particularly harmful to infants, young children and women.”

The CPSC warned, “Lead ingestion can cause harmful neurological effects on infants, young children, and pregnant women, including attention-related behavioral problems, decreased cognitive performance, and lower IQ.” It further advised the public “to stop using and dispose of these faucets immediately.”

Lead and cadmium are highly toxic substances belonging to the DENR’s Priority Chemicals List (PCL) with corresponding Chemical Control Orders (CCOs).  These substances are also among the “10 chemicals of major public health concern” as per the WHO.

The implementation of the recommended policy actions, the EcoWaste Coalition said, will contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (i.e., SDG #3 on good health and well-being, SDG #6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG #12 on sustainable consumption and production), as well as the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (i.e., strategic objective D on safer alternatives and innovative and sustainable solutions). 

It will further advance the realization of the resolution recently adopted by the World Health Assembly urging member states “to commit to a shared vision for a world free of lead exposure and prioritize efforts to address this pressing global health challenge,” among other aspirations, the group emphasized.

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BusinessEnvironmentNews

Environmental group welcomes SC’s writ of kalikasan in Samal-Davao bridge case

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE SUPREME Court’s writ of kalikasan ruling affirmed that the public has a right to a balanced and healthy ecology, environmental advocates said Tuesday as they welcomed the decision on the Samal Island-Davao Connectivity (SIDC) project.

The SC En Banc, during its session on July 1, issued a writ of kalikasan against the respondents: Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and the China Road and Bridge Corporation.

This follows a petition filed by environmental advocates Carmela Marie Santos, Mark Peñalver, and the Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM), after years of advocating against the project.

The petitioners filed the petition on April 21, raising grave concerns over the irreversible damage that the SIDC could inflict on vital marine ecosystems, particularly the Paradise Reef in Samal Island and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City. 

They maintained that the sites are not only ecologically rich, but are part of the natural heritage and identity of Davaoeños and the people of Mindanao.

“The Court’s issuance of the writ sends a strong signal: no development, no matter how grand or well-funded, is above the law—especially when it threatens the environment and the lives and livelihoods of communities,” APILA, Green Juris, and Ecoteneo in a collective statement.

The SC also required the respondents to file a verified return on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days after service of the writ. The high court also referred the ruling on the temporary environmental protection order to the Court of Appeals-Cagayan de Oro for action.

“This struggle is not merely environmental—it is spiritual, ethical, and profoundly human. It calls us to reject the “technocratic paradigm” that values profit over people and reduces nature to a disposable resource,” the group stressed.

To note, the Save Paradise Reef and the SDM have been campaigning for the bridge realignment since 2022, and launched a signature campaign.

Peñalver, in an earlier intervie,w said the group is not against development, but they push for the realignment that would cost less and have minimal impact on both the environment and the livelihood of the locals, especially the fisherfolk.

But despite the opposition, the construction of the bridge pushed through and was inaugurated in October 2022.

“We call on all government agencies and private entities involved to respect the process and prioritize environmental integrity over profit or expediency. Infrastructure must never come at the cost of environmental destruction and the disenfranchisement of communities,” it stressed. 

As of June 27, DPWH reported the bridge project has achieved a 38% accomplishment rate, with 73 out of 110 bored piles completed on the Davao side of the land viaduct, and has completed all bored piles on the Samal side.

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