The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), based in The Hague, Netherlands, is considering conducting some of its proceedings in the Philippines.
In a statement, the Supreme Court revealed that the PCA is exploring the possibility of collaborating with the Supreme Court of the Philippines to hold proceedings in the country.
This proposal was discussed during a courtesy visit by PCA Secretary General Dr. Marcin Czepelak to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the Supreme Court on Friday, August 30.
According to the PCA official, this could be facilitated through a Host Country Agreement, allowing the PCA to conduct hearings in facilities provided by the Philippine Supreme Court. Chief Justice Gesmundo stated that the court would carefully study the proposal.
Chief Justice Gesmundo also emphasized the Supreme Court’s commitment to supporting activities that strengthen international law, ensuring the rule of law prevails globally.
Earlier, PCA officials visited the Philippines to sign an agreement with the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) for the use of their facilities.
This means the PCA can conduct hearings in accordance with PCA regulations using PDRCI facilities, while PDRCI-administered cases may be heard at PCA offices in The Hague, Singapore, and Vietnam under the rules of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc