RETOOLING OF ACCREDITED VOLUNTARY ARBITRATORS ON
Some fifty accredited voluntary arbitrators coming from various regions of the country will gather in Mambajao, Camiguin on 16-17 May 2008 for their yearly re-tooling seminar.
The activity is the first of three seminars for accredited voluntary
arbitrators slated during the year. Two other seminars are scheduled in July
and September for arbitrators of
Re-tooling of AVAs is a yearly undertaking of the Department of Labor and Employment through the National Conciliation and Mediation Board and the Philippine Association of Voluntary Arbitrators, Inc. (PAVA). It is a program aimed to make voluntary arbitration a significant component of the Philippine Alternative Dispute Resolution System by enhancing the skills, knowledge and competence of the existing corps of voluntary arbitrators.
The program also aims to strengthen and intensify the arbitrators’ commitment to their profession and to voluntary arbitration.
Successful arbitrators who are considered experts in the field will serve as resource speakers in the two-day activity. They include Atty. Art O. Tan, Atty. Miguel Varela, Atty. Rosa Maria J. Bautista, Atty. Francis V. Sobreviñas, and Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo.
Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo will present the results of a research undertaken by the National Academy of Voluntary Arbitration, Inc. (NAVA, Inc.) on Professionalizing the Practice of Cooperative Manpower Servicing.
NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo will also give the participants an update on the Philippine industrial relations situation and will emphasize the need for mainstreaming of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, with particular emphasis on voluntary arbitration, into the labor dispute settlement process.
The participants will also gain insights on how to make voluntary arbitration a system that is geared towards business competitiveness and stability. Other topics include the dynamics and changing legal principles on voluntary arbitration and public accountability of voluntary arbitrators.
The retooling seminar for Luzon will be held in
Arbitrators wishing to join the forthcoming seminars are advised to register early. They can call the Voluntary Arbitration Division, NCMB at tel. no. 338-95-45, log on to the NCMB website, http://ncmb.ph or visit the appropriate NCMB Regional Branch for more details.