The Department of Justice (DOJ) has partnered with the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to expand access to faster, more affordable and flexible ways of resolving legal disputes outside the courtroom.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, OADR director Jose Maria Palaganas, and IBP national president Allan Panolong signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement on Wednesday, October 7, at the DOJ, establishing a framework for closer coordination in providing alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, services to the public.
The partnership brings together the DOJ Action Center’s (DOJAC) public legal assistance and referral services, the OADR’s technical expertise in ADR, and the IBP’s nationwide network of lawyers and local chapters.
Vida said the agreement reflects a broader approach to justice that recognizes dialogue and compromise as alternatives to litigation.
“Karapatan ng bawat Pilipino na maranasan ang hustisya; hindi lamang sa salita, kundi sa gawa. Hindi lamang sa loob ng korte naroroon ang hustisya. May hustisya sa pag-uusap, sa pakikinig, sa pag-unawa, at sa handang magkompromiso para sa kapayapaan,” Vida said.
He also called for the operationalization of a legal triage system involving DOJAC, OADR, and IBP to help determine the most appropriate course of action for people seeking legal assistance.
DOJ undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez said the partnership would improve the way legal concerns are assessed and referred, including cases that may be better resolved through mediation rather than court proceedings.
“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.
Panolong said the agreement formalizes the IBP’s collaboration with DOJAC and builds on initiatives such as the Katarungan Caravan, which brings legal assistance closer to communities.
“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 (memorandum of agreement) is the natural evolution of those shared triumphs in the field,” Panolong said.
Palaganas said OADR would support the partnership by providing ADR training to DOJ and IBP lawyers, strengthening their ability to handle mediation and other dispute-resolution processes.
“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,” Palaganas said.
The three agencies said the partnership is expected to help ease court congestion, reduce the cost of resolving disputes, and encourage dialogue and compromise as accessible alternatives to litigation.
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