Atty. Antonio A. Oposa Jr.

1954 - present

He is THE Authority when it comes to Philippine environmental

law

He is responsible for the doctrine on the concept of

intergenerational responsibility

He does not fall under the mainstream lawyer archetype. His

works go beyond those which are done in the courtroom.

Personal Information:

Born in Manila on 1954

Went to De La Salle University for his Business Administration Degree

Attended UP Diliman for his Law degree.

During his time in UP, he led the UP Forensics Society and organized a tree
planting activity within the campus by harmonizing conflicting fraternities.

Continuation:

Graduated from law school and passed the bar exam in 1982

He got a scholarship from the University of Oslo in Norway in 1988,

he studied energy and environment planning there. He also obtained
a masteral degree in environmental law from Harvard University.

His thesis was made as the foundation for RA 8749 (Philippine Clean
Air Act of 1999) as well as RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000)

He authored several books. Among them are:

The Laws of Nature and Other Stories

A Legal Arsenal for the Philippine Environment

Environmental Law in the Philippines

Awards and other recognitions:

Awardee (1993 The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines)

United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Roll of

Honour (1997)

International Environmental Law Award from the Center for

International Environmental Law (CIEL) (2008)

Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2009)

Curious case of Oposa v. Factoran G.R. No. 101083

July 30, 1993

Facts:

This case was filed against the Secretary of the Department of

Natural Resources. The petitioners prayed that all Timber licence
agreements (TLAs) will get cancelled and to cease all deforestation
activities.

The Private petitioners here are unique as they are 44 UNBORN

children.

The lower court denied the petition on the ground of non-impairment

of contracts as well as petitioners having no locus standi.

Issue

Whether or not the unborn children have legal

standing/locus standi to file the lawsuit?

Ruling:

YES!

The Supreme Court in granting the petition ruled that the children
had the legal standing to file the case based on the concept of
intergenerational responsibility. Their right to a healthy
environment carried with it an obligation to preserve that
environment for the succeeding generations. In this, the Court
recognized legal standing to sue on behalf of future generations.
Also, the Court said, the law on non-impairment of contracts must
give way to the exercise of the police power of the state in the
interest of public welfare.

To end:

Atty. Oposas contribution to the legal community is not that he

litigated and caused the imprisonment of criminals, he did not
protect conglomerates, he protects the one thing that all persons
have access to nature.

His contributions to enrich the knowledge about the environment

is indispensable.

No lawyer, or any person for that matter can survive once mother
natures wrath is tapped. Atty. Oposas work tries to save whats
left of our natural resources not just for our benefit, but for the
benefit of future generations to come.

END