The Alternative Law Groups (ALG), a coalition of 20 non-government organizations (NGOs) that are engaged in lawyering for social justice and human rights issues, launched the Environmental Defense (EnDefense) program during a national forum at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

The forum was attended by the Supreme Court (SC), Philippine Judiciary Academy officials, representatives of donor agencies, and environment advocates.

The program is a funding mechanism for litigation and related legal actions to enforce the protection of the country’s environment and natural resources.

The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) and the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTCFC) have contributed R2 million each as initial fund for the program.

According to ALG coordinator Atty. Marlon Manuel, the EnDefense program will support cases that have a direct link to or impact on environmental conservation and protection.

"The program will support cases that pursue legal sanctions against environmental law violators, and those that seek to question the constitutionality or validity of laws and policy issuance that affect the rights of communities or that have a negative impact on environmental protection," Manuel said.

"There are many very urgent environmental concerns in the country that need appropriate legal action. With support coming from the EnDefense Program, we expect the filing of more cases in defense of the environment," he added.

Among the issues raised during the national forum were the aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations in Davao, the controversial project of the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) in Mount Kanlaon in Negros Oriental, and the mining activities in Occidental Mindoro and Biak-na-Bato National Park in Bulacan.