G.R. No. 124130 June 29, 1998

GOVERNOR PABLO P. GARCIA, THE PROVINCE OF CEBU; TOMAS R. OSMEÑA; MAYOR ALVIN B. GARCIA, THE CITY OF CEBU, et.al., petitioners, vs.HON. JOSE P. BURGOS in his capacity as presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 17, Cebu City; and MALAYAN INTEGRATED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, respondents.

Statement of the Case

The Cebu South Reclamation Project is a FOUR BILLION PESO (P4,000,000,000.00) project of the, Government of the Republic of the Philippines funded out of a loan taken out by the government from the Government of Japan, through its international financing institution, the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund

The loan arrangements having been entered into, and the funds ready for release to the City of Cebu, the implementing agency of the project, the City of Cebu, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metro Cebu Development Project Office executed, on 11 September 1995, the "implementing Arrangement for Metro Cebu Development Project Phase III , under which agreement is outlined the procedure for implementation of the project as well as the rights and obligations of the parties thereto.

Malayan Integrated Industries Corporation filed a case for "Specific Performance, Declaration of Nullity, Damages and Injunction, with Writ of Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order" against herein petitioners, alleging that on October 31, 1977, a Contract of Reclamation and Development was entered into, signed and executed by and between the Province of Cebu, represented by then Governor Eduardo R. Gullas, and private respondent.

Thereafter, a TRO which pertains to the implementation of the Metro Cebu Development Project, Phase III, a major component of which is the Cebu South Reclamation Project , was issued by Judge Jose P. Burgos of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu.

WON the Preliminary Injunction issued by the judge is proper.

Preliminary Injunction void and improper.

Presidential Decree 1818 prohibits courts from issuing an injunction against any infrastructure project, such as the Cebu South Reclamation Project, "in order not to disrupt or hamper the pursuit of essential government project" or frustrate "the economic development effort of the nation." This Court will not tolerate a violation of this prohibition.

In the case at bar, the assailed March 18, 1996 Order of respondent judge specifically enjoined petitioners from implementing their Memorandum of Agreement dated September 11, 1995 (except as to the Cebu South Coastal Road), which pertains to the implementation of the Metro Cebu Development Project, Phase III, a major component of

which is the Cebu South Reclamation Project. The petitioners were also enjoined from acting on or implementing all other contracts involving the said reclamation project. The issuance of said writ of preliminary injunction evidently constitutes a blatant violation of PD 1818. The assailed Order is therefore void for being issued with grave abuse of discretion and without jurisdiction.

MALACAÑANGM a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1818

PROHIBITING COURTS FROM ISSUING RESTRAINING ORDERS OR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS IN CASES INVOLVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OF, AND PUBLIC UTILITIES OPERATED BY, THE GOVERNMENT

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 605 prohibits the issuance by the courts of restraining orders or injunctions in cases involving concessions, licenses, and other permits issued by administrative officials or bodies for the exploitation, development and utilization of natural resources of the country;

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to adopt a similar prohibition against the issuance of such restraining orders or injunctions in other areas of activity equally critical to the economic development effort of the nation, in order not to disrupt or hamper the pursuit of essential government projects;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order as follows:

Section 1. No court in the Philippines shall have jurisdiction to issue any restraining order, preliminary injunction, or preliminary mandatory injunction in any case, dispute, or controversy involving an infrastructure project, or a mining, fishery, forest or other natural resource development project of the government, or any public utility operated by the government, including among others public utilities for the transport of the goods or commodities, stevedoring and arrastre contracts, to prohibit any person or persons, entity or governmental official from proceeding with, or continuing the execution or implementation of any such project, or the operation of such public utility, or pursuing any lawful activity necessary for such execution, implementation or operation.

Section 2. This decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-one.