SC expands role of judges as conciliators

In line with the Justice Reform Initiatives Support (JURIS) Project, the Supreme Court on Friday pushed for expanding the role of judges as conciliators in promoting access to justice by court litigants. In a statement, the High Court said it held a Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) Showcase at the Baguio City Hall of Justice to promote the implementation of JDR as an institutionalized alternative dispute mechanism (ADR) in the judicial system. Through JDR, the Court aims to move the process of mediation and conciliation to the level of the judge in order to decongest court dockets, contribute significantly to the fair resolution of mediatable cases, increase satisfaction of litigants in the court process, as well as bring greater access to justice, especially by the poor. Proceedings in CAM and JDR are covered by the confidentiality rule. Mediatable cases include the following: (a) civil cases, settlement of estates and cases covered by the Rule on Summary Procedure, except those which by law may not be compromised; (b) cases cognizable by the Lupong Tagapamayapa under the Katarungang Pambarangay Law; (c) the civil aspect of B.P. 22 cases (Bouncing Check Law); (d) theft; and (e) the civil aspect of quasi-offenses under Title 14 of the Revised Penal Code (Reckless Imprudence). Speaking at the 5th annual JURIS-JPSC Meeting, JURIS-JPSC chair and Chief Justice Reynato Puno explained that JDR and CAM are "long term viable alternatives to trial proceedings," with which the Court aims to create "a more efficient and effective court system not only in the five model court sites but throughout the country in the years to come." "We consider CAM and JDR as an important part of the Supreme Court’s Action Program for Judicial Reform (APJR) to improve the quality and delivery of judicial services to our people," Puno said. According to Justice Ameurfina Melencio Herrera, chancellor of the Philippine –Judicial Academy, and member of the JURIS Joint Project Steering Committee (JURIS-JPSC), JDR is a major innovation in Philippine court procedure that is currently being pilot tested in five model court sites in the country - Pampanga, Negros Occidental, Cagayan de Oro City, La Union, and Baguio City-Benguet. JDR will also be implemented this year in Makati City, the country’s premier financial district. Under the JDR, judges assume the role of mediators and conciliators so that litigants may arrive at a compromise agreement in a non-confrontational manner. Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez led the inauguration of the Philippine Mediation Center at the third floor of the Hall of Justice, oath-taking of Baguio-Benguet and La Union mediators under the Court Annexed Mediation (CAM) program, which is also under the JURIS Project, and the observation of JDR mediation conferences conducted by Baguio-Benguet judges. From July to September 2006, before the introduction of CAM and JDR in Baguio City, 339 cases were disposed by way of compromised agreement. This number increased to 420 cases from October to December 2006, after the introduction of CAM and JDR, resulting in a 23.9% increase in the actual number of cases disposed. Also present at the day’s activities were Associate Justices Conchita Carpio Morales and Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, Supreme Court Officials, Judges from Bacolod City, Pampanga, Makati City, City of Manila, representatives of the Canadian Internationl Development Agency (CIDA); officials of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; leaders of Alternative Law Groups; and officers of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) of Canada local project office also attended the JDR Showcase. JDR and CAM are being implemented under the JURIS (Justice Reform Initiatives Support) Project of the Supreme Court with support from CIDA. NJI serves as the conduit for CIDA. - GMANews.TV