Special Rules of Court on Alternative Dispute Resolution

Rule 6

If the court appoints an arbitrator, the order appointing an arbitrator shall be immediately executory and shall not be the subject of a motion for reconsideration, appeal or certiorari. An order of the court denying the petition for appointment of an arbitrator may, however, be the subject of a motion for reconsideration, appeal or certiorari.

Rule 6

The petition for appointment of arbitrator may be filed, at the option of the petitioner, in the Regional Trial Court (a) where the principal place of business of any of the parties is located, (b) if any of the parties are individuals, where those individuals reside, or (c) in the National Capital Region.

Rule 6

After hearing, if the court finds merit in the petition, it shall appoint an arbitrator; otherwise, it shall dismiss the petition. In making the appointment, the court shall have regard to such considerations as are likely to secure the appointment of an independent and impartial arbitrator. At any time after the petition is filed and before the court makes an appointment, it shall also dismiss the petition upon being informed that the Appointing Authority has already made the appointment.

Rule 6

4. Contents of the petition. -The petition shall state the following: a. The general nature of the dispute; b. If the parties agreed on an appointment procedure, a description of that procedure with reference to the agreement where such may be found; c. The number of arbitrators agreed upon or the absence of any agreement as to the number of arbitrators; d. The special qualifications that the arbitrator/s must possess, if any, that were agreed upon by the parties; e. The fact that the Appointing Authority, without justifiable cause, has failed or refused to act as such within the time prescribed or in the absence thereof, within a reasonable time, from the date a request is made; and f. The petitioner is not the cause of the delay in, or failure of, the appointment of the arbitrator. Apart from other submissions, the petitioner must attach to the petition (a) an authentic copy of the arbitration agreement, and (b) proof that the Appointing Authority has been notified of the filing of the petition for appointment with the court.

Rule 6

The court shall act as Appointing Authority only in the following instances: a. Where any of the parties in an institutional arbitration failed or refused to appoint an arbitrator or when the parties have failed to reach an agreement on the sole arbitrator (in an arbitration before a sole arbitrator) or when the two designated arbitrators have failed to reach an agreement on the third or presiding arbitrator (in an arbitration before a panel of three arbitrators), and the institution under whose rules arbitration is to be conducted fails or is unable to perform its duty as appointing authority within a reasonable time from receipt of the request for appointment; b. In all instances where arbitration is ad hoc and the parties failed to provide a method for appointing or replacing an arbitrator, or substitute arbitrator, or the method agreed upon is ineffective, and the National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or his duly authorized representative fails or refuses to act within such period as may be allowed under the pertinent rules of the IBP or within such period as may be agreed upon by the parties, or in the absence thereof, within thirty (30) days from receipt of such request for appointment; c. Where the parties agreed that their dispute shall be resolved by three arbitrators but no method of appointing those arbitrators has been agreed upon, each party shall appoint one arbitrator and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall appoint a third arbitrator. If a party fails to appoint his arbitrator within thirty (30) days of receipt of a request to do so from the other party, or if the two arbitrators fail to agree on the third arbitrator within a reasonable time from their appointment, the appointment shall be made by the Appointing Authority. If the latter fails or refuses to act or appoint an arbitrator within a reasonable time from receipt of the request to do so, any party or the appointed arbitrator/s may request the court to appoint an arbitrator or the third arbitrator as the case may be.

Rule 6

When there is a pending petition in another court to declare the arbitration agreement inexistent, invalid, unenforceable, on account of which the respondent failed or refused to participate in the selection and appointment of a sole arbitrator or to appoint a party-nominated arbitrator, the petition filed under this rule shall be dismissed.

Rule 6

The comment/ opposition must be filed within fifteen (15) days from service of the petition.

Rule 6

Any party to an arbitration may request the court to act as an Appointing Authority in the instances specified in Rule 6.1 above.

Rule 6

The court may, at its option, also require each party to submit a list of not less than three (3) proposed arbitrators together with their curriculum vitae.