Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004

Sec 34

The arbitration of construction disputes shall be governed by Executive Order No. 1008, otherwise known as the Constitution Industry Arbitration Law.

Sec 35

Construction disputes which fall within the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (the "Commission") shall include those between or among parties to, or who are otherwise bound by, an arbitration agreement, directly or by reference whether such parties are project owner, contractor, subcontractor, quantity surveyor, bondsman or issuer of an insurance policy in a construction project. The Commission shall continue to exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction over construction disputes although the arbitration is "commercial" pursuant to Section 21 of this Act.

Sec 36

By written agreement of the parties to a dispute, an arbitrator may act as mediator and a mediator may act as arbitrator. The parties may also agree in writing that, following a successful mediation, the mediator shall issue the settlement agreement in the form of an arbitral award.

Sec 37

The Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC) shall promulgate rules to allow for the appointment of a foreign arbitrator or coarbitrator or chairman of a tribunal a person who has not been previously accredited by CIAC: Provided, That: (a) the dispute is a construction dispute in which one party is an international party (b) the person to be appointed agreed to abide by the arbitration rules and policies of CIAC; (c) he/she is either coarbitrator upon the nomination of the international party; or he/she is the common choice of the two CIAC-accredited arbitrators first appointed one of whom was nominated by the international party; and (d) the foreign arbitrator shall be of different nationality from the international party.

Sec 38

The provisions of Sections 17 (d) of Chapter 2, and Section 28 and 29 of this Act shall apply to arbitration of construction disputes covered by this Chapter.

Sec 39

A regional trial court which a construction dispute is filed shall, upon becoming aware, not later than the pretrial conference, that the parties had entered into an arbitration to be conducted by the CIAC, unless both parties, assisted by their respective counsel, shall submit to the regional trial court a written agreement exclusive for the Court, rather than the CIAC, to resolve the dispute. A. DOMESTIC AWARDS