The 1993 case of Oposa vs Factoran was filed with the premise that a mere 850,000

hectares of virgin old-growth rainforests are left representing barely 2.8% of the
entire land mass of the Philippine archipelago. Filed as a taxpayer’s class suit, a case
was filed by citizens of the Republic of the Philippines particularly minors,
representing their generation and the generation of the unborn whilst contesting that
they are entitled to the full benefit, use, enjoyment and preservation of our natural
resources. The principal petitioners, duly represented and joined by their respective
parents, therefore prayed that then Secretary of Department of Environment and
National Resources, Honorable Fulgencio S. Factoran, (1) cancel all existing timber
license agreements in the country; (2) cease and desist from receiving, accepting,
processing, renewing or approving new timber license agreements.

In ruling this case, the Supreme Court finds no difficulty in saying that the
Petitioners can, for themselves, for others of their generation and for the succeeding
generations, file a class suit against the Secretary of DENR. It was further
emphasized that their personality to sue in behalf of the succeeding generations is
based on the concept of intergenerational responsibility insofar as the right to a
balanced and healthful ecology is concerned and in "rhythm and harmony of nature.”
Clearly, the petitioners had every right to bring an action to the courts, enforce their
right to a sound environment and ensure that this right shall be protected for the
next generations to come.
Supreme Court also ruled that all licenses may thus be revoked or rescinded by
executive action. The petitioners may therefore amend their complaint to include as
defendants the holders or grantees of the questioned timber license agreements.
Basically, the complaint focuses on a specific fundamental right — the right to a
balanced and healthful ecology which is deeply embedded in the laws of our land
correlated with the right to health, as well as the other related provisions of the
Constitution concerning the conservation, development and utilization of the
country's natural resources. The discussion on this landmark case is timely, relevant
and transcending nations.
With our country being vulnerable to a lot of environmental challenges, we must
commend the group of minors who bravely addressed the destruction of the Philippine
rainforests being abused by numerous logging companies. The case was able to
reiterate the State’s role in the protection and preservation of our rainforests. Penned
in the early 1990s, the young generation then paved the way for the present
generation to enjoy the environment that we have now. Though it was not a core issue
at that time, we are able to reap its positive impacts.