MANILA – Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) president, lawyer Edmundo Tan, formally signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the establishment of sports arbitration and mediation, at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City on Friday.
“This is a historic partnership not only for both the PSC and the PDRCI but also for our stakeholders, to promote arbitration as (a) means to resolve sports-related disputes,” Ramirez said.
He added that the newly forged partnership would help the PSC in carrying out its mandate to assist national sports associations (NSAs) and different private amateur sports clubs.
“We welcome this very first partnership with the PSC. We are here to help in the urgent need to implement (an) alternative dispute resolution (ADR) policy for our sports stakeholders,” Tan said.
Among the objectives of the MOA is to encourage the institutionalization of sports ADR in sports promotion and development to ensure a fast and cost-effective resolution.
The PSC Board recently approved a policy applicable to all NSAs that requires and directs these associations to submit to PSC, as part of their Articles of Incorporation (AOI) and Bylaws, an Arbitration Provision under Section 181 of Republic Act (RA) 11232 (Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines), the adoption of RA Act 11232.
The PSC and PDRCI also commit to partner in all activities highlighting the benefits of ADR by providing webinars, seminars, lectures, and other information dissemination and training activities. The commission will also refer sports-related disputes between and among stakeholders of national amateur sports associations to the PDRCI for early resolution.
Also present on behalf of the PSC Board were PSC Commissioner Charles Maxey and executive director, lawyer Guillermo Iroy Jr., with PDRCI executive director, lawyer Arleo Magtibay Jr. and PDRCI Sports Arbitration Committee chairman, lawyer Charlie Ho.
On November 23, the sports agency partnered with the PDRCI and provided four lecture topics on sports arbitration for the PSC’s ‘MAKE It Sports’ online asynchronous learning program. (PR)
