The Department of Justice-Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (DOJ-OADR) in partnership with the Governance in Justice (GoJust) commenced the training of prosecutors and private lawyers who will comprise the pool of mediators in Cebu.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra earlier signed the 2019 Rules on Mediation in the National Prosecution Service (NPS).

OADR OIC-Executive Director Bernadette C. Ongoco said the purpose of mediation is to help parties arrive at an acceptable compromise to decongest the NPS docket.

The pilot implementation of the Rules shall be held in Cebu from August 2019 to January 2020.

Training of mediators

The first of a series of training for mediators was held on July 8-12, 2019 while the second batch was held on July 15-19, 2019. At least 40 participants attended each of the trainings.

Ongoco said after the training, the would-be mediators will undergo a 40-hour internship program during which they will be guided and supervised by experts in the mediation of actual cases.

The participants will be assessed based on their performance during the training and internship program to ensure their efficiency as prospective mediators.