FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. B. No. 2375 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The rationale of P.D. 1818 was to protect areas of activities that are critical 
to economic development efforts of the country, thus prohibitions against the 
issuance of restraining orders and injunctions so as not to disrupt the pursuit of 
critical 'government projects. 
However, the same decree has been used as a 
protective mantle in attempts to check possible government excesses and 
corru ption in the projects. 
In short it is now being used to mock the justice system instead of serving 
its true purpose. 
Therefore, and in order to realize its original purpose, 
reasonable restrictions rather than absolute prohibition must be established. It is 
then in the interest of the nation that we request for early passage of this bill. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
," 
, 


FIFT~ENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2375 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 1 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1818 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1818 is hereby amended 
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to read as follows: 
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"Section 1. No court of 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 
EXCEPT 
WHEN 
THE 
MATTERS 
OF EXTREME 
URGENCY 
INVOLVING 
NATIONAL INTEREST, SUCH THAT UNLESS 
A 
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, PRELIMINARY 
INJUNCTION, 
OR 
PRELIMINARY 
MANDATORY 
INJUNCTION IS ISSUED, GRAVE INJUSTICE AND 
IRREPARABLE INJURY SHALL ARISE. IN. WHICH 
CASE, NEVERTHELESS, THE APPLICANT SHALL 
EXECUTE A BOND IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT, 
IN THE AMOUNT TO BE FIXED BY THE COURT IN ITS 
ORDER GRANTING THE INJUNCTION, TO THE 
EFFECT THAT SUCH BOND SHALL ACCRUE IN 
FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT IF THE COURT 
SHOULD FINALLY DECIDE THAT THE APPLICANT 
WAS NOT ENTITLED THERETO." 


SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
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modified or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of 
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general 
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circula tion. 
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Approved,