MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is broadening the reach of its out-of-court conflict resolution initiative to offer the public more efficient and economical alternatives to traditional litigation.
Recognizing that court cases are often costly and time-consuming, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida formalized a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) alongside leadership from the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to establish an integrated framework for dispute resolution.
The tri-agency partnership combines the referral and public assistance capabilities of the DOJ Action Center (DOJAC), the technical specialization of the OADR, and the nationwide legal presence of the IBP’s local chapters.
“Karapatan ng bawat Pilipino na maranasan ang hustisya; hindi lamang sa salita, kundi sa gawa. Hindi lamang sa loob ng korte naroroon ang hustisya,” said Vida. “May hustisya sa pag-uusap, sa pakikinig, sa pag-unawa, at sa handang magkompromiso para sa kapayapaan.”
IBP National President Allan Panolong highlighted that the agreement institutionalizes their ongoing joint efforts with DOJAC, building upon the outcomes of their shared mobile legal program, the Katarungan Caravan.
“The Katarungan Caravan proved that when our two organizations combine forces, justice ceases to be an abstract concept. It becomes a tangible, living relief for the people who need it most. Today’s MOA is the natural evolution of those shared triumphs in the field,” Panolong said.
Under the agreement, the OADR will conduct specialized training sessions for DOJ and IBP attorneys to strengthen their mediation and conflict management skills.
“Through this collaboration, we envision a wider and more visible network of trained and accredited ADR practitioners, professionals from whom the public can readily identify and approach when disputes arise,” said OADR Director Jose Ma. Palaganas.
Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez added that the initiative will refine the initial assessment, routing, and resolution of incoming legal problems through accessible channels.
“A legal problem does not always mean ending up in court. Sometimes, the better answer is mediation. Sometimes, it is legal advice, proper referral, or simply helping a person understand what options are available. That is where this partnership becomes important,” Gutierrez said.