Legal support program to go after environment violators

A coalition of 20 non-government organizations (NGOs) promoting social justice and the protection of human rights yesterday launched the Environmental Defense (EnDefense) Program to boost efforts to protect the country’s environment and natural resources.

The Alternative Law Groups (ALG) led legal resource associations and environmental conservation foundations in launching the legal support program in a national forum held in Quezon City.

Environmental advocates from various NGOs, representatives of donor agencies, and officers of the Philippine Judicial Academy and Supreme Court attended the forum, which served as the culmination of a series of regional launches of the program in Cebu City and Davao City.

Lawyer Marlon Manuel, ALG coordinator, said the EnDefense Program would provide legal support to and help fund the filing of cases against violators of environment laws.

The program is an apparent attempt to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s move to designate 117 environment courts nationwide, Manuel said.     – Katherine Adraneda