1^st VISAYAS WIDE CONFERENCE ON LABOR ISSUES

The recently concluded 1^st Visayas Wide Conference on Labor Issues, a retooling and MCLE accredited activity was a great success. It was a 2-day seminar held last October 5 & 6, 2006 at Casino Espanol de Cebu, Cebu City sponsored by Philippine Association on Voluntary Arbitration (PAVA), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Association of accredited Voluntary arbitrators of Central Visayas (AVAC) and in coordination with University of san Carlos – College of Law. It was participated in by a total 0f 180 participants coming from accredited voluntary arbitrators, lawyers and Human Resource (HR) practitioners mostly from Central Visayas.

The guest speaker was Hon. USEC Romeo C. Lagman for and in behalf of the Hon. DOLE Secretary Arturo D. Brion.

No less than PAVA President, Atty. Art O. Tan discussed the Revised Procedural Guidelines in the Conduct of Voluntary Arbitration Proceedings.

Voluntary arbitrators attendees earned fifteen (15) retooling credit units while legal practitioners earned a total of sixteen (16) Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) units.

Topics included Code of ethics for Voluntary Arbitrators; Grievance, Arbitration and Administrative Investigation; Mediation Skills in Labor Cases; National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) rules and Decision Writing.

NCMB Deputy Executive Director Atty. Johnson G. Canete, Voluntaty Arbitration Division Officer-in-Charge Conciliator-Mediator Teresita E. Audea and Staff came all the way from Manila to monitor the activity while NCMB Branch Director Isidro L. Cepeda headed the preparation committee.