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the mediation center unit located in the courthouse. This referral ismandatory.If mediation succeeds, a compromise agreement signed by the partiesand counsel is furnished the court. The agreement then becomes legallyenforceable, much like a judge’s decision. If mediation fails, the case isreturned to the court, which shall then set the case for resumption of pretrialand thereafter, to try and decide the case on its merits.Following are the cases that are considered mediatable:■■■■All civil cases, settlement of estates and cases covered by theRule on Summary Procedure. Typical cases would be collectionof debts, ejectment of tenants in apartment dwellings, andinheritance disputes among family members.Cases cognizable by the Lupong Tagapamayapa under theKatarungang Pambarangay Law such as disputes betweenneighbors of the same barangay over property.The civil aspect of Batas Pambansa 22, which covers the debtspaid through bouncing checks.The civil aspect of quasi-offenses (listed under Title 14 ofthe Revised Penal Code), which are infractions committed underimprudence or negligence (e.g., damaged vehicles and/or injuredpassengers or pedestrians as a result of motor/vehicular accidents)On the other hand, expressly stated as excluded from mediation are caseswhich cannot be compromised such as legal separation or annulment ofmarriage.What the above qualifications mean is that mediation is basically meantfor civil cases. However, a number of criminal offenses defined in theRevised Penal Code are listed among the cases cognizable byKatarungang Pambarangay (Refer to Annex A). So it is possible that therewill also be criminal cases to be referred by the judge to the mediation unit,ostensibly to help in declogging court dockets.A mediation fee of P500.00 is collected by the Clerk of Court upon the filingof the case. The fee will accrue to the Mediation Fund for the training ofmediators, payment of mediator’s fees and other operating expenses ofthe Philippine Mediation Center (PMC).OVERVIEW OF AVAILABLE REDRESS INTRODUCTION MECHANISMS 33