RoLMin Project promotes ADR through a comprehensive course on mediation and conciliation

The Land Management Bureau (LMB) participated in the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution’s (OADR) Comprehensive Course on Mediation and Conciliation on April 22 to April 27, 2024, at Park Inn Hotel by Radisson in Davao City. This was coordinated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the Promotion of the Rule of Law in Mindanao (RoLMiN) Project – a technical cooperation project between the DENR-LMB and the Federal Foreign Office of Germany

RoLMin Principal Advisor Christina Rentzmann highlighted the course as one of the project’s key activities.  The course drew participants from various partner agencies, including DENR, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The primary focus of the training is to equip the participants with the essential mediation and conciliation concepts, principles, and mechanisms, as well as other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems pertinent to land disputes. This comprehensive approach aimed to enhance the participants’ capacity to effectively navigate and resolve complex land-related conflicts through non-adversarial means.

During the course, participants engaged with distinguished speakers who shared valuable insights and experiences. LMB Director Emelyne Talabis underscored the objectives of the training, emphasizing the importance of developing a proficient body of mediators and conciliators within the DENR-LMB and the partner agencies. Director Talabis articulated the expectation that participants would leverage their newfound knowledge and skills to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of conflict resolution processes within their respective agencies. OADR Executive Director Irene De Torres Alogoc elaborated on the advantages of resolving disputes through ADR, highlighting its efficacy in fostering amicable resolutions, preserving relationships, and reducing the time and resources expended in protracted legal battles.

By equipping participants with advanced mediation and conciliation skills, the training enhances the capacity of government agencies to effectively address land disputes in a manner that is fair, transparent, and conducive to sustainable development. Moreover, the collaborative nature of the RoLMiN Project fosters synergies between partner agencies, promoting greater coordination and coherence in conflict resolution efforts. Ultimately, the training underscores the commitment of the DENR-LMB and its partners to uphold the rule of law, promote social justice, and advance the cause of peaceful coexistence in land management practices even across Mindanao.