BAGUIO CITY -- Trees at the Luneta Hill here will stay as the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday permanently stopped its cutting and balling for the seven-story Sky Park Project of mall giant SM.
"The Supreme Court in its en banc session today made permanent the temporary restraining order issued on March 24, 2015 prohibiting the cutting and balling of trees on Luneta Hill in Baguio City, where SM is expanding its mall," SC Public Information Office chief Brian Keith Hosaka announced, shortly after the SC en banc's summer session.
The High Court said its decision is without prejudice to the filing of another application for an environmental compliance certificate, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
Environmental group Cordillera Global Network earlier opposed the project, which involved the earth-balling and cutting of 182 trees in the so called "green zone" on the city's Session Road.
The High Court's order reversed the Dec. 15, 2015 ruling of the Court of Appeals that junked the environmental cases against SM, and lifted the temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) it issued in 2012, following opposition by residents and various group to the mall giant's project. (PNA)
