Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program has received recognition from the Philippines Department of Justice due to its high mediation success rate.
According to information from the agency, this makes it and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines the only government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to have earned such accreditation from the DOJ, with a recognition ceremony held on Wednesday morning.
“We were surprised by PAGCOR’s high success rate,” DOJ Undersecretary Atty. Irene de Torres-Alogoc was quoted as saying. “We hope to have more [success] because when there are disputes in an agency, it is hard to work. It affects the productivity of the office itself.”
The Certificate of Recognition says PAGCOR has effectively “complied with the requirements set forth under the OADR Accreditation Guidelines for Alternative Dispute Resolution Organizations and Training Standards for Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners in the field of Mediation.”
The accreditation is valid until 2024.
PAGCOR’s Public Alternative Dispute Resolution Program was formed in compliance with Republic Act 9285, also known as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004, and Executive Order No. 97, s. 2012 which mandates government agencies to establish a system to resolve disputes filed before them.
The program aims to mitigate and avoid animosity between or among PAGCOR personnel and other parties which, if not properly addressed, may result in the elevation of the disputes to the courts.
According to PAGCOR, some of the most common cases being mediated under the program are alimony, spousal and child support, and non-payment of just debts.
