DAVAO CITY, July 1, 2025 — The Supreme Court has granted a Writ of Kalikasan in favor of environmental advocates opposing the ongoing construction of the Samal Island–Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge, marking a significant legal and moral win for environmental protection in Mindanao.
The writ was issued in response to a petition filed by Carmela Marie Santos, Atty. Mark Peñalver, and the Sustainable Davao Movement. The petition raised alarms over the potential irreversible damage to marine ecosystems such as Paradise Reef in Samal Island and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City — areas rich in biodiversity and considered vital to the region’s ecological balance and cultural identity.
In its resolution, the Supreme Court directed the respondents — the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) — to file a verified return within a non-extendible period of 10 days.
The Court also referred the petitioners’ request for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) to the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City. If granted, the TEPO could temporarily halt construction of the ₱23-billion bridge project, which the DPWH reports is already 38% complete.
Environmental groups backing the petition — including APILA, Green Juris, IDIS, and Ecoteneo — hailed the ruling as a “moral and legal victory” and a strong affirmation of every Filipino’s constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology, as guaranteed under Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution.
“This is not just a legal case—it’s a stand for the environment, communities, and future generations,” the groups said in a joint statement. “The Court’s action sends a clear signal: no development, no matter how well-funded, is above the law when it endangers ecosystems and livelihoods.”
In a separate press release, the groups cited the words of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’, underscoring the spiritual and ethical dimension of the issue: “The Earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor… We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the Earth.”
The petitioners argue that the current alignment of the bridge threatens to destroy marine habitats that serve as vital fishing grounds and ecological sanctuaries. They have long called for a thorough review of the project’s environmental compliance and consultation processes.
“This struggle is not merely environmental — it is spiritual, ethical, and profoundly human,” the statement added. “Infrastructure must never come at the cost of environmental destruction and the disenfranchisement of communities.”
As the legal proceedings move forward, environmental groups are calling on all stakeholders — including national agencies and private contractors — to uphold due process and prioritize ecological integrity over short-term economic gains.
“This is not the end of the road—but it is a significant step forward. Nature has spoken through the people. Now, the law has listened,” the statement concluded.
The Court of Appeals is expected to rule on the TEPO in the coming weeks, a decision that may further determine the fate of the controversial bridge project.