Special Rules of Court on Alternative Dispute Resolution

Rule 4

Despite the pendency of the action referred to in Rule 4.1, above, arbitral proceedings may nevertheless be commenced or continued, and an award may be made, while the action is pending before the court.

Rule 4

An order referring the dispute to arbitration shall be immediately executory and shall not be subject to a motion for reconsideration, appeal or petition for certiorari. An order denying the request to refer the dispute to arbitration shall not be subject to an appeal, but may be the subject of a motion for reconsideration and/or a petition for certiorari.

Rule 4

The comment/ opposition must be filed within fifteen (15) days from service of the petition. The comment/ opposition should show that: (a) there is no agreement to refer the dispute to arbitration; and/or (b) the agreement is null and void; and/or (c) the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement or resolution by arbitration in accordance with Section 6 of the ADR Act.

Rule 4

A party to a pending action filed in violation of the arbitration agreement, whether contained in an arbitration clause or in a submission agreement, may request the court to refer the parties to arbitration in accordance with such agreement.

Rule 4

After hearing, the court shall stay the action and, considering the statement of policy embodied in Rule 2.4, above, refer the parties to arbitration if it finds prima facie, based on the pleadings and supporting documents submitted by the parties, that there is an arbitration agreement and that the subject-matter of the dispute is capable of settlement or resolution by arbitration in accordance with Section 6 of the ADR Act. Otherwise, the court shall continue with the judicial proceedings.

Rule 4

The request for referral shall be in the form of a motion, which shall state that the dispute is covered by an arbitration agreement. Apart from other submissions, the movant shall attach to his motion an authentic copy of the arbitration agreement. The request shall contain a notice of hearing addressed to all parties specifying the date and time when it would be heard. The party making the request shall serve it upon the respondent to give him the opportunity to file a comment or opposition as provided in the immediately succeeding Rule before the hearing.

Rule 4

(A) Where the arbitration agreement exists before the action is filed. - The request for referral shall be made not later than the pre-trial conference. After the pre-trial conference, the court will only act upon the request for referral if it is made with the agreement of all parties to the case. (B) Submission agreement. - If there is no existing arbitration agreement at the time the case is filed but the parties subsequently enter into an arbitration agreement, they may request the court to refer their dispute to arbitration at any time during the proceedings.

Rule 4

The court shall not decline to refer some or all of the parties to arbitration for any of the following reasons: a. Not all of the disputes subject of the civil action may be referred to arbitration; b. Not all of the parties to the civil action are bound by the arbitration agreement and referral to arbitration would result in multiplicity of suits; c. The issues raised in the civil action could be speedily and efficiently resolved in its entirety by the court rather than in arbitration; d. Referral to arbitration does not appear to be the most prudent action; or e. The stay of the action would prejudice the rights of the parties to the civil action who are not bound by the arbitration agreement. The court may, however, issue an order directing the inclusion in arbitration of those parties who are not bound by the arbitration agreement but who agree to such inclusion provided those originally bound by it do not object to their inclusion.