The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the official organisation of all Philippine lawyers, has recently launched the Philippine International Centre for Conflict Resolution (PICCR). The PICCR is a non-stock, non-profit arbitral institution that will provide commercial arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services and facilities for parties to disputes. The PICCR was established in the IBP's objective of making arbitration more accessible and a mainstream option for dispute resolution in the Philippines.
The PICCR handbook provides that as an arbitration and ADR centre, the PICCR seeks to ensure that cost-effective and efficient commercial arbitration and other ADR services are made available to parties involved in a dispute. The PICCR is intended to rival the Philippine Dispute Resolution Centre, the first arbitration institution established in the Philippines. To achieve its objectives, a set of arbitration rules has been formulated by the PICCR incorporating the best practices of international commercial arbitration and including provisions on multiple parties, multiple contracts, joinder, consolidation, early dismissal, emergency arbitration, and expedited procedure. It also has formulated a set of guidelines on the schedule of arbitrators' fees, including the PICCR's administrative fees.
The PICCR will provide high-quality education and training for interested arbitrators and practitioners with the objective of making the Philippines a competitive hub for alternative dispute resolution in the Asia-Pacific region. Workshops and assessment exercises will also be conducted for those who wish to be trained in arbitration and ADR. The accreditation course of the PICCR is intended to ensure that accredited arbitrators will have all the necessary expertise and knowledge to be effective and proficient arbitrators and ADR practitioners.
The PICCR will use the IBP's network throughout the Philippines to make arbitration more accessible throughout the country. The PICCR is envisioned to have several hearing rooms of varying sizes as well as breakout rooms available to parties. In addition to the facilities of the IBP's regions and chapters, the PICCR will have its headquarters at the IBP main office in Ortigas, Metro Manila, Philippines.
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Ronald Mark C Lleno |
John Christian A Regalado |