February 12, 2008

SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 33-08

DEFINING THE ORGANIZATION, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE MEDIATION CENTER OFFICE AND MEDIATION CENTER UNITS

WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5, par. (5) of the Constitution, declares it a policy of the State to provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases and dispensation of justice.

WHEREAS, towards this end, it is imperative to provide the people access to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, and Mediation has been found to be one expeditious mode of dispute resolution;

WHEREAS, the Court en banc, in

WHEREAS, pursuant to said issuance, PHILJA proceeded to set-up PMC Units in the areas of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, and the cities of Angeles, Baguio, Bacolod, Cagayan De Oro, Digos, Saranggani, General Santos, the provinces of Negros Occidental, Pampanga, Misamis Oriental, Leyte, South Cotabato, La Union, Benguet, Batangas, Bulacan, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte;

WHEREAS, the continuing expansion of PMC operations in all judicial regions demand the formalization of its structural organization within PHILJA;

NOW, THEREFORE DHETIS

The Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Philippine Judicial Academy hereby formally organize the Philippine Mediation Center Office and Mediation Center Units, as follows:

SECTION 1. The Philippine Mediation Center Office.

The Philippine Mediation Center Office shall primarily be responsible for the expansion, development, implementation, monitoring and sustainability of SC ADR mechanisms, namely, Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appellate Court Mediation (ACM), Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR), Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation (MCAM), and eventually Court-Annexed Arbitration (CAA) and other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, as well as the organization of PMC Units as it may deem necessary throughout the country. It shall be under the operational control and supervision of PHILJA, in coordination with the Office of the Court Administrator, through the Executive Judges.

SECTION 2. Organizational Structure.

The Philippine Mediation Center Office shall be composed of:

A. Executive Committee The powers and authority of the PMC Office shall be vested in and exercised by an Executive Committee composed of the PHILJA Chancellor as Chairperson and eight (8) members composed of four (4) regular members who shall be recommended by PHILJA, nominated by the PHILJA Board of Trustees and appointed by the Supreme Court; and four (4) ex officio members, namely, the Court Administrator, the Vice Chancellor, the PHILJA Chief of Office for PMC, and the Chair of the PHILJA ADR Department, all of whom are entitled to vote.

The term of the regular members of the PMC Office Executive Committee shall be for two (2) years subject to renewal upon recommendation by PHILJA to the Board of Trustees and the approval of the Supreme Court. The Chairperson and the members of the PMC Office Executive Committee shall be entitled to reasonable expense allowances for attending committee meetings in accordance with rates provided by the Supreme Court. ACaTIc

B. PHILJA Chief of Office for PMC The Philippine Mediation Center Office shall have a PHILJA Chief of Office for PMC who shall be appointed by the Court, upon recommendation of PHILJA, for a term of two (2) years without prejudice to subsequent reappointment.

He must be a member of the Philippine Bar for at least ten (10) years and must have extensive experience in ADR of not less than five (5) years. He shall receive the same compensation and benefits as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals.

For purposes of retirement privileges, seniority, and other benefits, service of the PHILJA Chief of Office for PMC shall be considered as service in the Judiciary, except as may otherwise be provided by law.

C. PHILJA Assistant Chief of Office for PMC The PHILJA Assistant Chief of Office for PMC shall be appointed by the Court upon recommendation of PHILJA.

He must be a member of the Philippine Bar for at least three (3) years. He must have extensive work experience in management and at least three (3) years experience in ADR. He shall receive compensation and benefits equal to that of a Supreme Court official with Salary Grade 28.

D. Central Office The PMC Office shall be composed of the following divisions:

1. Mediation Planning and Research Division

2. Mediation Resource Management Division

3. Mediation Education, Training and Monitoring Division

The employees to be assigned to these divisions shall be those listed in Section 10 of

E. Mediation Center Units Unless otherwise provided by the Executive Committee, the Center shall be composed of the following units: IHaCDE

1. Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM) The unit shall consist of a Mediation Staff Officer V, a Mediation Staff Assistant II, a Mediation Aide, and accredited mediators assigned thereat.

2. Appellate Court Mediation (ACM) The unit shall consist of a Mediation Staff Officer VI, a Mediation Staff Officer IV, a Mediation Staff Assistant II, a Mediation Aide, and accredited mediators assigned thereat.

3. Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) The unit shall consist of a Mediation Staff Officer V, Mediation Staff Assistant II, and a Mediation Aide.

4. Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation (MCAM) The unit shall consist of a Mediation Staff Officer V, a Mediation Staff Assistant II, a Mediation Aide, and accredited mediators assigned thereat.

The qualifications, training, and accreditation of mediators shall be governed by existing

PMC Units shall preferably be located in a Hall of Justice or Bulwagan ng Katarungan, or such other places close to said Halls.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, accredited mediators are not employees of PHILJA and the PMC Office.

The Organizational Chart of the PMC Office is appended hereto for ready reference.

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions.

The PMC Office shall exercise the following powers and functions in order to accomplish its mandate under

A. Develop and promulgate TAHcCI

B. Implement in coordination with the Office of the Court Administrator,

C. Establish such PMC Units as may be necessary;

D. Provide a system for the recruitment, screening, training and accreditation of Mediators;

E. Monitor and evaluate the performance of Mediators, such as, in settling disputes and in observing the Code of Ethical Standards for Mediators, upgrade their mediation skills and oversee their further development. Such evaluation shall be the basis for the renewal of their accreditation as Mediators;

F. Provide a grievance mechanism and procedure for addressing complaints against Mediators and PMC Office Unit Staff;

G. Promote and sustain the programs and activities of Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appellate Court Mediation (ACM), Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR), Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation (MCAM), and eventually Court-Annexed Arbitration (CAA) and other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms;

H. Call on any government agency, office instrumentality, commission or council to render such assistance as may be necessary for the efficient performance of its functions; and

I. Exercise such other functions necessary in furtherance of its mandate.

SECTION 4. Preparation and Submission of Monthly Reports.

The Mediation Staff Officer V of each PMC Unit shall be responsible for the preparation and timely submission to the PMC Central Office, through the PHILJA Assistant Chief of Office for PMC, of the Monthly Reports on the Status of Mediation Cases and such other reports as may be required, furnishing copies thereof PHILJA and OCA. SCIcTD

SECTION 5. PMC Office Funds.

The Mediation Fees collected and collectible pursuant to Section 9,

All revenues of the PMC Office from sources other than the mediation fees above shall form part of its Special ADR Fund (SAF) which shall be administered and disbursed by PHILJA in accordance with the existing guidelines approved by the Supreme Court.

SECTION 6. Technical Assistance.

The Philippine Mediation Center Office may propose to PHILJA and the Supreme Court the entry into agreements with appropriate and qualified organizations or individuals for technical assistance which PMC Office may need for its development and improvement.

SECTION 7. Definition of Terms.

The following terms shall be defined as:

(a) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) The provision of an alternative system for settling disputes between two or more parties, which operates independently of, or, as an adjunct to the judicial litigation system, through the intervention of a qualified person or persons trained to intercede in, facilitate and coordinate the interaction of the disputants in a settlement process.

(b) Mediation A process whereby an impartial third person called a mediator facilitates communication and negotiation between parties for the purpose of assisting them reach a voluntary agreement regarding their dispute. In mediation, decision-making authority rests with the parties.

(c) Mediator An impartial person who assists in the resolution of a dispute. The role of a mediator includes, but is not limited to, assisting the parties in identifying issues, fostering joint problem-solving, and exploring options for settlement. aDHCEA

(d) Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM) A mediation process conducted under the auspices of the Court.

(e) Appellate Court Mediation (ACM) A mediation program in the Court of Appeals (CA), corollary to Court-Annexed Mediation in the lower courts. It provides a conciliatory approach in conflict resolution. Through ACM, the CA promotes a paradigm shift in the resolution of disputes from rights based (judicial) to an interest based (mediation) process to amicably settle appeals.

(e) *Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) A process whereby the judge (called the JDR Judge) employs conciliation, mediation or early neutral evaluation in order to settle a case at the pre-trial stage. In the event the JDR fails, then another judge (called the trial judge) shall proceed to hear and decide the case.

(f) Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation (MCAM) A form of Court-Annexed Mediation whereby mediation proceedings are conducted in a mobile court deployed in an area for a certain period.

(g) Court-Annexed Arbitration (CAA) A voluntary dispute resolution conducted with the assistance of the court in which one or more arbitrators appointed in accordance with the Arbitration Clause and as agreed upon by the parties, resolve a dispute by rendering an award.

SECTION 8. Other Funding.

The Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) may receive for the PMC Office, funds in the form of grants or donations, coming from foreign or local institutions or individuals, for the promotion and development of Court-Annexed Mediation and other ADR mechanisms, as approved by the Court.

SECTION 9. Staffing Pattern.

The staffing pattern of the Philippine Mediation Center Office shall include the following positions to perform the functions of the new office and its divisions: ATEHDc

Philippine Mediation Center Office

ITALIC BOLD FONT ALL CAPS New Item, funding to be requested from DBM

Italic Bold Font New Item, funding to be sourced from existing DBM approved Item

Regular Font Existing DBM Approved Item

P Permanent

c.t. Co-terminous

SECTION 10. Effectivity.

This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

Manila, February 12, 2008.

(SGD.) REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice