Institutionalizing the Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the Department of Finance and Its Operating Bureaus

October 30, 2007 DOF DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 043-07 INSTITUTIONALIZING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ITS OPERATING BUREAUS Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9285 (Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004) and Executive Order No. 523 dated April 7, 2006 of the Office of the President entitled "Executive Order on Administrative Justice Reform by Instituting the Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)," there shall be designated ADR Specialists in the Department of Finance and its Operating Bureaus. The ADR Specialists who shall comprise the Inter-Agency ADR Team are as follows: AaCTcI NAME POSITION OFFICE DESIGNATION Atty. Thelma A. Mariano Director IV Revenue Office, Department of Finance Coordinator Rosario C. Fuerte Chief Administrative Officer Personnel Services Division, Department of Finance Co-Coordinator Atty. Reynaldo Umali Deputy Commissioner Bureau of Customs Member Atty. Noemi B. Alcala Attorney IV Bureau of Customs Member Luz N. Villapando Supervising Administrative Officer Bureau of Local Government Finance Member George T. Roma Chief, Intelligence Division and ICO-RD Region VIII Bureau of Local Government Finance Member Atty. V Cadangen Attorney IV Bureau of Internal Revenue Member Atty. Lucila Fernando Attorney IV Bureau of Internal Revenue Member The Inter-Agency ADR Team shall be tasked with the development, implementation and institutionalization of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program in the Department and its Operating Bureaus. It shall likewise be tasked with the submission of an Annual ADR Progress Report to the Office of the President. To carry out the objectives of the aforementioned Executive Order, the Inter-Agency ADR Team shall periodically review existing administrative dispute resolution processes in the Department and its Operating Bureaus and develop specific procedures to reduce delay in decision-making, to institutionalize the use of ADR processes prior to litigation, to facilitate self-representation; and expand non-lawyer counseling and representation where appropriate. The use of mediation as the priority ADR process in resolving conflicts where it is deemed applicable, shall be encouraged. This Order shall take effect immediately. (SGD.) MARGARITO B. TEVES Secretary