BASIC WESM AND ARBITRATION COURSE JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY PIARB AND PEMC
The Philippine Institute of Arbitrators, Inc. ("PIArb"), in cooperation with the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation ("PEMC"), conducted a combined Basic Wholesale Electricity Spot Market ("WESM") Course and Basic Arbitration Course. The event was held at the Traders Hotel, Manila, from 24 to 27 September 2013, and was supported by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. ("PDRCI"), the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers ("IIEE"), and the Philippine Institute of Construction Arbitrators and Mediators ("PICAM").
The joint course was designed to give executives, lawyers and consultants of WESM-participating companies the basic knowledge about how the WESM operates and how commercial or civil disputes among participants may be resolved.
The Basic WESM Course was given on days 1 and 2 of the event, and was opened by PEMC's President, Melinda L. Ocampo. PEMC's Engineer Ehfraim Q. Novenario discussed fundamental concepts underlying the WESM, its history and creation, as well as WESM's market trading and operations, while PEMC's Ms. Zachary C. Gutierrez explained how electricity transactions are metered, settled and billed under the WESM system. Meanwhile, Atty. Katrina A. Garcia-Amuyot walked the participants through WESM's enforcement and compliance mechanisms, as provided in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, the WESM Rules, and WESM Market Manuals.
The Basic Arbitration Course, as applied to WESM disputes, was held on days 3 and 4. PEMC's Dispute Resolution Administrator, Atty. Jesusito G. Morallos discussed the underlying basis for WESM arbitration as a mode of dispute resolution, while Atty. Mario E. Valderrama discussed basic concepts in arbitration, as well as recent developments on arbitration laws in the Philippines. Atty. Donemark J.L. Calimon discussed arbitration agreements and examined the possible issues involved in an agreement "at-large" between WESM participants. The participants also learned negotiation and dispute management skills, and arbitrator ethics, through the lectures given by Attys. Zenaida Ongkiko-Acorda and Ricardo R. Ongkiko. Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV explained the jurisdiction, powers and obligations of the arbitral tribunal, while Engineer Salvador P. Castro and Atty. Arthur P. Autea discussed mediation and the arbitral proceeding proper, respectively. Lastly, Attys. Victor P. Lazatin, Custodio O. Parlade, and Eduardo R. Ceniza gave their insights on the role of courts in arbitration proceedings, as well as issues on enforcement and challenges against arbitral awards.
The course was also intended to form part of the required training for prospective WESM-accredited arbitrators, mediators and alternative dispute resolution support services providers. On 12 November 2013, applicants for WESM Arbitrator-Accreditation took a whole-day WESM Arbitrator- Accreditation Examination in Quisumbing Torres. Results of the examination are expected to be out by the end of this year.