Environmental protection is of paramount concern to the government.
Apart from various laws and policies on the protection of the environment, the Supreme Court issued a continuing mandamus on Dec. 18, 2008, directing key government agencies “to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level (Class B sea waters per Water Classification Tables under DENR Administrative Order No. 34 [1990]) to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation” to deter unabated abuse of the popular body of water that play a key role in our ecosystem.
Now comes the Green Justice Zone, the first of its kind launched in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, on Nov. 10, 2023. It is aimed at having a strong collaboration between the national government and the local government units for the efficient and effective delivery of justice in environmental protection and natural resource management.
“Establishing a Green Zone is the Justice Sector’s concrete contribution toward affording our people their constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. In our Puerto Princesa Green Zone, the justice sector actors will deliver responsive and real-time justice services to our constituents,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo stressed in his message during the launch on Nov. 10, 2023.
The Green Justice Zone in Puerto Princesa is the country’s 12th Justice Zone. Eleven other Justice Zones have been established in the cities of Quezon, Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Bacolod, Naga, Calamba, Balanga, Baguio, Zamboanga, and Tagaytay.
We look forward to the establishment of more Justice Zones around the country, particularly Green Justice Zones, considering the importance of protecting the environment.
The Justice Zone is an initiative of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) aimed at shortening legal proceedings by up to 50 percent. It is anchored on its objective of having a swift and fair administration of the criminal justice system. It was established to strengthen the coordination and communication among the principal agencies of the JSCC by serving as a venue and a mechanism for communication, principled cooperation, and studied coordination with great deference to institutional independence.
The establishment of a Green Justice Zone is timely as the country grapples with the impact of climate change that is affecting the whole world, further aggravated by mismanagement of natural resources, mankind’s abuses, and commercialism—activities that put too much emphasis on profit without regard for its adverse effects on the community.
If the objective of the Justice Zone, in particular the Green Justice Zone, is implemented to the letter, we are certain to have a safe environment.
In the case of Manila Bay reclamation projects, which have been ordered suspended by President Marcos, the Green Justice Zone will certainly help expedite the review of these projects to determine its sustainability and impact on the environment and the affected communities.
As of now, the cumulative impact assessment being conducted on the Manila Bay reclamation projects is still ongoing and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said last month that it would “take some time” before it could be completed.
But with the creation of the Green Justice Zone, we hope that this will help expedite the cumulative impact assessment, not only on the Manila Bay reclamation projects but on other environment-related endeavors, as well, to ensure we have a sound and sustainable environment.
Let’s protect the environment at all costs.
