GROUP 2

THE OFFICE FOR ALTERNATIVEDISPUTE RESOLUTION

The Office of Alternative Dispute Resolutions an agency attached to the
Department of Justice which shall have a Secretariat and shall be headed
by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines, taking into consideration the recommendation of the Secretary
of Justice.
Powers of the OADR
• To act as appointing authority of mediators and arbitrators when the
parties agree in writing that it shall be empowered to do so.
• To conduct seminars, symposia, conferences and other public fora
and publish proceedings of said activities and relevant
materials/information that would promote, develop and expand the
use of ADR.
• To establish an ADR library or resource center where ADR laws,
rules and regulations, jurisprudence, books, articles and other
information about ADR in the Philippines and elsewhere may be
stored and accessed.
• To establish a training program for ADR providers/practitioners, both
in the public and private sectors; and to undertake periodic and
continuing training programs for arbitration and mediation and charge
fees on participants. It may do so in conjunction with or in cooperation
with the IBP, private ADR organizations, and local and foreign
government offices and agencies and international organizations.
• To certify those who have successfully completed the regular
professional training programs provided by the OADR.
• To charge fees for services rendered such as, among others, for
training and certifications of ADR providers.
• To accept donations, grants and other assistance from local and
foreign sources.
• To exercise such other powers as may be necessary and proper to
carry into effect the provisions of the ADR Act.
Functions of the OADR
• To promote, develop and expand the use of ADR in the private and
public sectors through information, education and communication.
• To monitor, study and evaluate the use of ADR by the private and
public sectors for purposes of, among others, policy formulation.
 • To recommend to Congress needful statutory changes to develop,
strengthen and improve ADR practices in accordance with
international professional standards.
• To make studies on and provide linkages for the development,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of government and private
ADR programs and secure information about their respective
administrative rules/procedures, problems encountered and how they
were solved.
• To compile and publish a list or roster of ADR providers/practitioners,
who have undergone training by the OADR, or by such training
providers/institutions recognized or certified by the OADR as
performing functions in any ADR system. The list or roster shall
include the addresses, contact numbers, e-mail addresses, ADR
service/rendered (e.g. arbitration, mediation) and experience in ADR
of the ADR providers/practitioners.
• To compile a list or roster of foreign or international ADR
providers/practitioners. The list or roster shall include the addresses,
contact numbers, e-mail addresses, ADR service/s rendered (e.g.
arbitration, mediation) and experience in ADR of the ADR
providers/practitioners.
Divisions of the OADR
The OADR has following staff and service divisions:
Secretariat - which shall provide necessary support and discharge such
other functions and duties as may be directed by the Executive Director.
Public Information and Promotion Division -which shall be charged with
the dissemination of information, the promotion of the importance and
public acceptance of mediation, conciliation, arbitration or any combination
thereof and other ADR forms as a means of achieving speedy and efficient
means of resolving all disputes and to help in the promotion, development
and expansion of the use of ADR.

• Training Division - which shall be charged with the formulation of

effective standards for the training of ADR practitioners; conduct of
trainings in accordance with such standards; issuance of certifications
of training to ADR practitioners and ADR service providers who have
undergone the professional training provided by the OADR: and the
coordination of the development, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of government and private sector ADR programs.
• Records and Library Division - which shall be charged with the
establishment and maintenance of a central repository of ADR laws,
 rules and regulations, jurisprudence, books, articles, and other
information about ADR in the Philippines and elsewhere.

THE ADVISORY COUNCIL

Composition of the Advisory Council
• Mediation profession
• Arbitration profession
• ADR organizations
• IBP
• Academe
Role of the Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is responsible to advise the Executive Director on
policy, operational and other relevant matters. The Council shall meet
regularly, atleast once every two (2) months, or upon call by theExecutive
Director.