DOJ brings alternative dispute resolution training to Batanes

The Department of Justice’s Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) has rolled out a community-based dispute resolution program in Batanes to introduce conflict mediation tools to Ivatan residents and barangay officials.

The OADR team conducted a training course on ADR mechanisms from 15 to 17 July under the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) law, aiming to improve the capacity of local leaders to handle minor disputes at the grassroots level.

Held at Batanes State College, the training was attended by barangay officials and members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa—the local dispute resolution committee. The sessions focused on equipping participants with practical skills in mediation and conflict resolution, enhancing peacekeeping efforts in their communities.

The Ivatans are an Austronesian ethnolinguistic group indigenous to the Batanes and Babuyan Islands, with deep cultural ties to Northern Luzon’s ethnic groups. The DOJ noted that the initiative highlights its commitment to delivering accessible justice even to the most remote regions of the country.

During the visit, Deputy Executive Director Krista Gem M. Santos and the OADR delegation met with Batanes Governor Roland P. Aguto Jr. to discuss the creation of a local ADR public office. Once accredited by the OADR, the office will offer easier access to dispute resolution services for the province's residents.

The latest training effort follows a previous ADR policy workshop and is part of the agency’s continuing efforts to empower communities through non-litigious solutions to conflict.