Students File Supreme Court Petition to Halt Tree Cutting for Manila Expressway Project

MANILA, Philippines — Five students have asked the Supreme Court to stop the cutting of trees along Roxas Boulevard and Quirino Avenue for the Southern Access Link Expressway project, bringing public backlash over the SMC-backed tollway to the high court. Joaquin Bautista, Elisha Zantua, Benjamin Francia, Paul Callorina and Hannah Guerra filed the petition Thursday, July 23, asking the Supreme Court to issue a temporary environmental protection order against further tree-cutting for the SALEx project. Named respondents in the petition include SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corp., the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the judge of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41. The students also asked the high court to declare unconstitutional Section 23 of the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines. They said the Manila RTC cited the provision when it denied their earlier request for a temporary environmental protection order. The case remains pending before the Manila RTC. Only the students' request for preliminary relief was denied, which they have now raised before the Supreme Court. The petition also asks the high court to nullify the RTC resolution denying the protection order. Tree-cutting backlash. The tree-cutting along Quirino Avenue and Roxas Boulevard is tied to the SALEx project, which is intended to connect the Skyway to Roxas Boulevard in Manila. The DENR has said the tree-cutting underwent environmental review, technical assessment and consultations before permits were issued. The work has drawn strong public backlash because of the number of mature trees affected and concerns that some activities allegedly continued despite SMC's voluntary suspension of the project.