Section 9. Mediation Fees. —
Trial Courts
The Clerks of Court of the Regional Trial Courts and the First-Level Courts shall collect the amount of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) (1) upon the filing of a Complaint or an Answer with a mediatable permissive or compulsory counterclaim or cross-claim, complaint-in-intervention, third-party complaint, fourth-party complaint, etc. in civil cases, a Petition, an Opposition and a Creditors' Claim in Special Proceedings; (2) upon the filing of a Complaint/Information for offenses covered by the Katarungang Pambarangay Law, violation of B.P. Blg. 22, estafa and libel cases where damages are sought; and (3) upon the filing of a Complaint/Information for quasi-offenses under Title 14 of the Revised Penal Code.
The Clerks of Court of the First Level Courts shall collect the amount of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) upon the filing of a Notice of Appeal to the Regional Trial Court.
The Clerks of Court of the Regional Trial Court shall collect the amount of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) upon the filing of a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeals or the Sandiganbayan.
Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals
The Clerks of Court of the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals shall collect the amount of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) upon the filing of a mediatable case, petition, special civil action, a comment/answer to the petition or action and the appellee's brief. The Clerk of Court of the Court of Tax Appeals shall also collect the amount of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) for the appeals from the decision of a CTA Division to the CTA En Banc.
Provided that in all cases, a pauper litigant shall be exempt from contributing to the Mediation Fund. Despite such exemption, the court shall provide that the unpaid contribution to the Mediation Fund shall be considered a lien on any monetary award in a judgment favorable to the pauper litigant.
And provided further, that an accused-appellant shall also be exempt from contributing to the Mediation Fund.
The amount collected shall be receipted and separated as part of a special fund to be known as the "Mediation Fund" and shall accrue to the SC-PHILJA-PMC Fund, disbursements from which are and shall be pursuant to guidelines approved by the Supreme Court.
The Fund shall be utilized for the promotion of court-annexed mediation and other relevant modes of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), training of mediators, payment of mediator's fees, and operating expenses of the Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) units including expenses for technical assistance and organizations/individuals, transportation/communication expenses, photocopying, supplies and equipment, expense allowance and miscellaneous expenses, whenever necessary, subject to auditing rules and regulations. In view thereof, the mediation fees shall not form part of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) under P.D. No. 1949 nor of the special allowances granted to justices and judges under Republic Act No. 9227.