May 24, 2007

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 57-07

 

This Office has been receiving reports that despite the issuance of Administrative Circular No. 20-2002 dated April 24, 2002 n mandating the conduct of monthly inventory and referral of cases for mediation proceedings, referrals of mediatable cases by the trial courts to the Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) Units continue to be wanting which circumstance will ultimately entail a waste of time for volunteer mediators. Hence, this Office REITERATES the guidelines in Administrative Circular No. 20-2002 dated April 24, 2002 which among other things direct the Presiding Judges and Branch Clerks of Court in the trial courts to: DIETHS

1. Conduct a monthly inventory of cases in their dockets referable to mediation. Pursuant to the Court's Second Revised Guidelines, dated 16 October 2001, the cases that may be referred are as follows:

a. All civil cases, settlement of estates, and cases covered by the Rule on Summary Procedure except those which by law may not be compromised;

b. Cases cognizable by the Lupong Tagapamayapa under the Katarungang Pambarangay Law;

c. The civil aspect of B.P. 22 cases; and

d. The civil aspect of quasi-offenses under Title 14 of the Revised Penal Code.

2. Upon appearance of the parties during pre-trial in cases covered by mediation, immediately order the parties to appear before the Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) unit located in the courthouse for initial mediation conference;

3. Issue appropriate sanctions upon failure of the parties to appear before the PMC unit, since mediation is part of pre-trial;

4. Ensure the regular referral of cases for mediation to the PMC unit; and

5. The monthly inventory shall be prepared and signed by the Branch Clerk of Court, duly noted by the Presiding Judge, for submission to the Office of the Court Administrator and the Philippine Judicial Academy.

For your information and guidance, Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) units are established and organized in different stations attached hereto as Annex "A".

For strict compliance.

(SGD.) CHRISTOPHER O. LOCKCourt Administrator

ANNEX A

List of Established PMC Units

 

No.	PMC Unit	Region	Year Established
	NCR
1	Caloocan	NCR	2002
2	Las Piñas	NCR	2002
3	Makati	NCR	2002
4	Malabon	NCR	2002
5	Mandaluyong	NCR	2002
6	Manila	NCR	2002
7	Marikina	NCR	2002
8	Muntinlupa	NCR	2002
9	Navotas	NCR	2002
10	Parañaque	NCR	2002
11	Pasay	NCR	2002
12	Pasig	NCR	2002
13	Pateros	NCR	2002
14	Quezon City	NCR	2002
15	San Juan	NCR	2002
16	Taguig	NCR	2002
17	Valenzuela	NCR	2002
	La Union
18	San Fernando	1st Judicial Region	2006
19	Agoo	1st Judicial Region	2006
20	Aringay	1st Judicial Region	2006
21	Bacnotan	1st Judicial Region	2006
22	Balaoan	1st Judicial Region	2006
23	Bauang	1st Judicial Region	2006
24	Naguilian	1st Judicial Region	2006
25	San Juan	1st Judicial Region	2006
26	Benguet	1st Judicial Region	2006
27	Baguio	1st Judicial Region	2006
	Pampanga
28	City of San Fernando	3rd Judicial Region	2004
29	Angeles	3rd Judicial Region	2004
30	Clark	3rd Judicial Region	2004
31	Mabalacat	3rd Judicial Region	2004
32	Porac	3rd Judicial Region	2004
33	Apalit	3rd Judicial Region	2004
34	Arayat	3rd Judicial Region	2004
35	Bacolor	3rd Judicial Region	2004
36	Floridablanca	3rd Judicial Region	2004
37	Guagua	3rd Judicial Region	2004
38	Lubao	3rd Judicial Region	2004
39	Mexico	3rd Judicial Region	2004
40	Macabebe	3rd Judicial Region	2004
41	Sta. Ana	3rd Judicial Region	2004
42	Sta. Rita	3rd Judicial Region	2004
43	Sto. Tomas	3rd Judicial Region	2004
	Bulacan
44	Malolos	3rd Judicial Region	2007
	Batangas
45	Batangas	4th Judicial Region-A	2007
46	Lipa	4th Judicial Region-A	2007
	Negros Occidental
47	Bacolod City	6th Judicial Region	2004
48	Bago City	6th Judicial Region	2004
49	Binalbagan	6th Judicial Region	2004
50	Cadiz City	6th Judicial Region	2004
51	Calatrava	6th Judicial Region	2004
52	Cauayan	6th Judicial Region	2004
53	EB Magalona	6th Judicial Region	2004
54	Escalante City	6th Judicial Region	2004
55	Himamaylan City	6th Judicial Region	2004
56	Hinigaran	6th Judicial Region	2004
57	Ilog	6th Judicial Region	2004
58	Isabela	6th Judicial Region	2004
59	Kabankalan	6th Judicial Region	2004
60	La Carlota	6th Judicial Region	2004
61	La Castellana	6th Judicial Region	2004
62	Murcia	6th Judicial Region	2004
63	Pontevedra	6th Judicial Region	2004
64	Sagay City	6th Judicial Region	2004
65	San Carlos City	6th Judicial Region	2004
66	Silay City	6th Judicial Region	2004
67	Sipalay City	6th Judicial Region	2004
68	Valladolid	6th Judicial Region	2004
	Cebu
69	Cebu	7th Judicial Region	2002
70	Mandaue	7th Judicial Region	2002
71	Lapu-Lapu	7th Judicial Region	2002
72	Talisay City	7th Judicial Region	2005
73	Naga	7th Judicial Region	2005
74	CarCar	7th Judicial Region	2005
75	Minglanilla	7th Judicial Region	2005
76	Argao City	7th Judicial Region	2005
77	Toledo City	7th Judicial Region	2005
	Leyte
78	Tacloban	8th Judicial Region	2005
79	Abuyog	8th Judicial Region	2006
80	Alangalang	8th Judicial Region	2006
81	Basey Samar	8th Judicial Region	2006
82	Carigara	8th Judicial Region	2006
83	Dagami	8th Judicial Region	2006
84	Dulag	8th Judicial Region	2006
85	Jaro	8th Judicial Region	2006
86	Burauen	8th Judicial Region	2006
87	Capoocan	8th Judicial Region	2006
88	Palo	8th Judicial Region	2006
89	Tanauan	8th Judicial Region	2006
90	Tolosa	8th Judicial Region	2006
91	Naval	8th Judicial Region	2006
92	Baybay	8th Judicial Region	2006
93	Ormoc	8th Judicial Region	2006
94	Hilongos	8th Judicial Region	2006
	Misamis Oriental
95	Cagayan de Oro	10th Judicial Region	2004
96	Misamis Oriental	10th Judicial Region	2006
97	Bukidnon	10th Judicial Region	2006
98	Camiguin	10th Judicial Region	2006
	Davao
99	Davao	11th Judicial Region	2002
100	Digos	11th Judicial Region	2002
101	Tagum	11th Judicial Region	2002
102	Panabo	11th Judicial Region	2002
	Socksargen
103	General Santos	11th Judicial Region	2005
104	Maasim	11th Judicial Region	2005
105	Saranggani	11th Judicial Region	2005
106	Polomolok	11th Judicial Region	2005
107	Koronadal	11th Judicial Region	2005
108	Tupi	11th Judicial Region	2005
109	Tampakan	11th Judicial Region	2005
110	Surallah	11th Judicial Region	2005
111	Banga-South Cotabato	11th Judicial Region	2005
112	Norala-South Cotabato	11th Judicial Region	2005
113	Tantangan-South Cotabato	11th Judicial Region	2005

 

 

n Note from the Publisher: Written as "Administrative Circular No. 20-2002 dated April 24, 2004" in the original document.