Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo emphasized the transformative role of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to ease court congestion and provide quicker access to justice.
In his keynote address at the 3rd International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Philippines Arbitration Day, Gesmundo underscored how arbitration provides a faster, more flexible, and often more cost-effective alternative to traditional court litigation.
He added arbitration is a “beacon of innovation within our judicial system.”
Among the key reforms of the SC include the 2000 Action Program for Judicial Reform and the 2009 Special ADR Rules, which govern arbitration-related court proceedings.
Under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), the Highest Tribunal has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Rules of Court to further promote ADR practices.
Gesmundo also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to make arbitration more efficient, transparent, and data-driven.
Meanwhile, he noted that striking the right balance between AI-driven innovation and human oversight “will be key to ensuring the continued fairness and integrity of arbitration as a trusted means of resolving disputes.”
