DAR holds trainings on alternative dispute resolution

IN compliance with Republic Act 9285, the Department of Agrarian Reform conducted a series of trainings on alternative dispute resolution for lawyers, legal officers and municipal agrarian reform officers in the Central Visayas.

RA 9285 is the country’s law providing for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The training was done in four phases. The first phase was held at the Northwinds Hotel in Cebu City on March 27-31, second at the Bohol Plaza in Bohol from April 10 to April 14, third at the Plaza Maria Luisa in Negros Oriental from May 23 to May 27. The fourth and last phase, which included an internship training, was held from June to November wherein the participants were made to handle actual mediation cases in the different cities and municipalities of Region 7.

Only 37 of the 59 participants graduated from the training.

The graduates were confirmed by DAR Undersecretary Gerundio Madueno in confirmation rites held last Dec. 16 at the Crown Regency Hotel in barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

The graduates received certificates of completion and accreditation as ADR mediators.

They are the first graduates of ADR nationwide.

The accreditation was signed by DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes.

The ADR mediators can handle mediatable DAR cases as well as other disputes pertaining to land.

The training’s success was due to the support of DAR-7 Director Rodolfo Inson, training facilitator Carmelita Morales, ADR mediation trainor Carmela Kuizon and other mediation trainors.