Metropolitan Manila Bay Development Authority v Concerned Residents of Manila Bay. Country/Territory Philippines Type of court National - higher court Date Feb 15, 2011 Source UNEP, InforMEA Court name Supreme Court of the Philippines Seat of court Manila Judge VELASCO JR Reference number G.R. Nos. 171947-48 Language English Subject Environment gen., Mineral resources, Sea Keyword Pollution control Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Coastal zone management Soil rehabilitation Environmental audit Monitoring Polluted soil cleanups Abstract The Supreme Court of the Philippines issued for the first time a continuing mandamus through which the Authority was compelled to perform its duties in cleaning and preserving the polluted Manila Bay, and was obliged to submit quarterly progress reports to the Court for monitoring. Due to the special nature of this remedy, the Court was able to monitor the execution of its judgment until it is fully satisfied. To facilitate the cleanup, the Supreme Court created the Manila Bay Advisory Committee, headed by Associate Justice Velasco Jr, who wrote the judgment. Following this judgment, the Supreme Court of the Philippines adopted new Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases in 2010. The new rules allow citizen suits, in which plaintiffs representing the public interest may bring environmental claims even though they did not necessarily experience any injury. These actions are permitted, so long as they are done for the protection, preservation or rehabilitation of the environment. The Environmental Rules also incorporate the recent judgment by providing for the issuance of a writ of continuing mandamus. The writ may command a party to perform acts for an unlimited period up until judgment is satisfied. Additionally, the court can monitor, or direct a government agency to monitor this execution, through whatever means necessary, including the submission of periodic progress reports to the Court. Full text COU-158533.pdf