This collaboration, formalized on Aug. 28, 2024, aims to enhance the use of arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods for settling international disputes in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia, PDRC said in a statement.
Under this cooperation agreement, the PCA will conduct hearings at the PDRC’s facilities in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Similarly, the PDRC will hold sessions at the PCA’s headquarters in the Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands. Both organizations will work together on hosting meetings, exchanging information, and organizing conferences and seminars to promote arbitration.
The agreement was signed in Manila, with key figures such as PCA secretary general Marcin Czepelak and PDRC president Rogelio Nicandro present. Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya, who currently serves as the acting president of the PCA administrative council, also witnessed the signing.
Nicandro emphasized that hosting PCA hearings locally will offer cost and time benefits to Philippine businesses while enhancing the capabilities of local arbitration professionals.
Ambassador Malaya highlighted that this partnership elevates the Philippines' reputation as a preferred arbitration hub, aligning with its commitment to a rules-based international order.
The PCA, established in 1899, is a leading institution for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, with a global caseload that underscores its pivotal role in international arbitration.
