Marilyn Cahatol

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headquarters in Quezon City on July 18, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Pro-environment advocates urged the Supreme Court to declare the Freedom of Information Manual of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as unconstitutional.</p><p>In a petition for certiorari and mandamus, the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center and Diocese of Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas questioned the DENR’s manual which has 27 types of information listed as exceptions.</p><p>Respondents to the petition are Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla.</p><p>Among the exceptions of the DENR that the petitioners mentioned are any data in the course of applying for an Environmental Compliance Certificate as well as documents submitted by mining clients in support of their mining applications.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2025/11/8/gina-lopez-s-passionate-anti-mining-protest-goes-viral-again-1018">Gina Lopez’s passionate anti-mining protest goes viral again</a></div><p>The DENR has repeatedly denied access to critical data and documents needed to make informed decisions among affected stakeholders, according to the petitioners.</p><p>Bishop Casicas said that even from the start of the exploration period for a particular project, they cannot access essential information needed by civil society groups.</p><p>The petitioners noted, among others, the 10,000-hectare Tampakan Copper-Gold Project within the ecologically critical Marbel-Buluan Watershed in South Central Mindanao.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/22/south-cotabato-lifts-open-pit-mining-ban-paves-way-for-tampakan-project">South Cotabato lifts open-pit mining ban, paves way for Tampakan project: official</a></div><p>“Hindi ba malaki ang papel ng civil society, ng church sa pag-assess sa mining operation, sa pag-evaluate ano ang tama at mali dyan, may information kaming makuha na reliable for legal purposes. Wala kaming magamit dahil hindi nila maibigay,” Bishop Casicas said.</p><p>LRC lawyer Rolly Peoro noted that there are 447 environmentally critical projects all over the country, including projects involving flood control.</p><p>Peoro said their group was blind as to the environmental impacts of those projects, preventing them from participating in any legal proceedings.</p><p>“That’s the danger, hindi natin alam talaga, we’re blind and in fact, the FOI manual, siya iyong ironically nagiging reason for us to be blind sa mga information,” Peoro said.</p><p>Peoro also underscored the supposed violations of the DENR manual of the basic rights of Filipinos under the Constitution.</p><p>“The most important danger is the violation of our fundamental rights to information, right to due process and right to participate in all levels of decision-making,” Peoro said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/14/denr-cites-violations-in-controversal-monterrazas-project-in-cebu-city-1129">DENR cites violations in controversial Monterrazas project in Cebu City</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tOZIUHSHEnA?si=rmTw7Q0vTdLJPuk7" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Pro-environment advocates urged the Supreme Court to declare the Freedom of Information Manual of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as unconstitutional.</p>

Pro-environment advocates urged the Supreme Court to declare the Freedom of Information Manual of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as unconstitutional.

Supreme Court urged to declare DENR’s FOI manual as unconstitutional

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Supreme Court urged to declare DENR’s FOI manual as unconstitutional

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 18, 2025 12:18 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 18, 2025 01:02 PM PHT

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