Amid Chinese incursions on the country’s islands in the West Philippine Sea, the Supreme Court issued a writ of Kalikasan Friday compelling concerned government agencies to protect, preserve, rehabilitate, and restore the marine environment in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef. During its special en banc session, the Court resolved to grant the prayer for the issuance of a writ of Kalikasan filed by the members of the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. The petitioners had sought the same relief that the Court issued in 2008 when it ordered all concerned government agencies to coordinate for the cleanup, restoration, and preservation of the Manila Bay.

Requejo, R. E. (2019, May 4). SC orders to protect WPS: Writ compels gov't to stop marine foray. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.