OCA CIRCULAR NO. 57-2007, May 24, 2007

This Office has been receiving reports that despite
the issuance of Administrative Circular No. 20-2002 dated April 24, 2004
mandating the conduct of. monthly .inventory and referral of cases for
mediation proceedings, referrals of mediatable cases by the trial
courts to the Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) Units continue to be
wanting which circumstance will ultimately entail a waste of time for
volunteer, mediators. Hence, this Office REITERATES the
guidelines in Administrative Circular No. 20-2002 4ated April.24, 2002
which among other things direct the Presiding Judges and Branch Clerks
of Court in the trial courts to:

1. Conduct a monthly inventory of cases in their dockets referable
   to mediation. Pursuant to the Court’s Second Revised Guidelines, dated
   16 October 2001 , the cases that may be referred are as follows:

a. All civil cases, settlement of estates, and cases covered by the Rule on Summary Procedure except those which by law may
not be compromised;

b. Cases cognizable by the Lupong Tagapamayapa under the Katarungam, Pambarangay Law;

c. The civil aspect of B.P. 22: cases; and

d. The civil aspect of quasi-offenses under Title 14 of the Revised Penal Code.

2. Upon appearance of the parties during pre-trial in cases covered by
   mediation, immediately order the parties to appear before the
   Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) unit located in the courthouse for
   initial medial ion conference;

3. Issue appropriate sanctions upon failure of the parties to appear before the PMC unit, since mediation is part of pre-trial;
4. Ensure the regular referral of cases for mediation to the PMC unit; and
5. The monthly inventory shall be prepared and signed by the Branch
   Clerk of Court, duly noted by the Presiding Judge, for submission to the
   Office of ?he Court Administrator and the Philippine Judicial Academy.

For your information and guidance, Philippine Mediation Center (PMC)
units are established and organized in different stations attached
hereto as Annex “A”.

For strict compliance.

May__24__, 2007.

LIST OF ESTABLISHED PMC UNITS
(as of May 15, 2007)