The Supreme Court has created an advisory committee to check compliance reports of various government agencies tasked to clean up the waters of Manila Bay.

The SC en banc has appointed Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco as chairman of the advisory committee, assisted by Assistant Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.

Former Environment Secretary Dr. Elisea Gozun, former Environment undersecretary and dean of the Ateneo School of Government Antonio G.M. La Vina, and former director of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute Dr. Gil Jacinto are the members of the panel.

The move was prompted by the protest by urban poor groups and residents over the demolition of their houses without prior notice by the personnel of the Metro Manila Development Authority following the ruling of the court issued on Dec. 18, 2008.

In a motion for clarification, petitioners through their lawyer Bienvenido Salinas Jr. said the ongoing MMDA demolition violated Urban Development and Housing Program Act?s 30-day notice, the constitutional provision protecting the urban or rural poor from eviction, and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

Advocacy groups yesterday expressed alarm over the eviction of 70,000 slum dwellers in Metro Manila in the SC decision in MMDA vs. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, et. al (GR. Nos. 171947-48).

John Francis Lagman of the Urban Poor Associates, together with Kabalikat, Ugnayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog Pasig, Community Organizer Multiversity, and Community Organizer of the Philippine Enterprise, joined in the clarificatory motion, questioning the lack of guidelines in the implementation of the agency?s clearing operations.

He said they have tapped the services of St. Thomas More Law Center and the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal to exhaust legal means to stop the demolitions. Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja