The Executive Order No. 97, which was recently signed by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, is expected to enhance the business environment in the country by amending the existing alternative dispute resolution mechanism, senior official said here Thursday.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the Executive Order, which will be in effect in early November, prescribes that the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR), an attached agency of the Department of Justice, is going to be in charge of the management and development of dispute resolution programs, a move to hasten the resolution of cases involving government projects as well.

According to the new order, OADR has all the authority and functions previously being discharged by the Office of the President (OP) over disputes filed with the courts, quasi-judicial bodies or administrative offices. It means that the office will oversee, monitor, coordinate and evaluate the development of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs and services in agencies under the Executive Branch.

Ochoa said the new presidential directive will complement Executive Order No. 78 issued on July 4, 2012, which provides for the mandatory inclusion of ADR in all contracts and agreements for public-private partnership (PPP), build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme and joint venture entered into between the government and private entities and local government units (LGUs).

Both orders aimed to provide"a better business climate for private investments by making the resolution of disputes less expensive, tedious and time-consuming," he added. Endi