A. LEGISLATION, TRENDS AND TENDENCIES
A.1. Proclamation No. 518
On December 4, 2012, in line with the policy of the State to
encourage and actively promote the use of alternative dispute
resolution (ADR) in the Philippines, the Office of the President
issued Proclamation No. 518 declaring December 19 of every year
as “National Alternative Dispute Resolution Day.” Proclamation
No. 518 was intended to implement the key objectives of the ADR
laws in the country, including those of encouraging and actively
promoting the use of ADR in the Philippines. The Office for
Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR), an attached agency of
the Department of Justice of the Philippines, is tasked to plan and
implement appropriate activities for the observance of the
National Alternative Dispute Resolution Day.
In 2013, in line with its mandate, the OADR conducted
prosecutors’ orientation training on mediation, prepared a strategic
action plan for the promotion of ADR in the Philippines, and
spearheaded the implementation of the activities for the National
Alternative Dispute Resolution Day. The OADR also participated
in important discussions with the Philippine Institute of
Arbitrators in relation to spreading awareness on ADR
mechanisms in the country and is among the government agencies
preparing the implementing rules and regulations of Executive
Order No. 78, which mandates the inclusion of provisions on the
use of ADR mechanisms in all contracts involving public-private
partnership projects, build-operate and transfer projects, joint
venture agreements between the government and private entities,
and those entered into by local government units.3