THE Supreme Court yesterday said ongoing efforts to decongest court dockets in the country have led to improvements in case disposition rates.
Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said this is also complemented by the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation.
Leonen, in his speech before an audience of leading experts and practitioners during the Philippine ADR Day last November 21 in the field of alternative dispute resolution, said data showed that judicial reforms being implemented by the High Court have led to the improvement in the case disposition rate in courts.
He said that for first-level courts, the case disposition rate of 53 percent in 2021 increased to 60 percent in 2022 and to 61 percent in 2023.
For second-level courts, the case disposition rate increased from 32 percent in 2021 to 39 percent in 2022 and 42 percent in 2023.
“The disposition rate in the Supreme Court also improved from 19 percent in 2022 to 25 percent in 2023, when it disposed of 4,730 cases,” Leonen added.
However, Leonen acknowledged that while much has been achieved, more needs to be done.
“The Judiciary is already taking concrete steps to enhance efficiency, access, and innovation under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 or the SPJI,” he said.
In the continuing effort of the SC to decongest court dockets, Leonen said ADR practitioners have a great role to play in ensuring the success of judicial reforms.
“Arbitration and other ADR mechanisms empower parties to choose how they will resolve disputes in a manner that is timely, cost-effective, and tailored to their specific needs and circumstances,” he said, adding that “it gives them the sense of ownership and flexibility in resolving their cases, which otherwise they would not have achieved in traditional court proceedings.”
