Ateneo dean appointed as Hague arbitrator

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo School of Government Dean Antonio La Viña has been appointed as a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.

La Viña was appointed upon the nomination of the Philippine government. He will be a member of the Specialized Panel of the Arbitrators of the international tribunal for environment and natural resources.

"It’s not really a big deal; essentially I am just one of around 20 experts in the world who are in a pool that can be chosen by parties to an environmental arbitration," La Viña said.

He was nominated by the Department of Environment of Natural Resources and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

La Viña noted that he agreed to the nomination as he could help resolve disputes with his 25 years of experience in the field.

"To be part of this panel is a good achievement professionally but that’s not even the reason for joining it. I genuinely just want to help people and planet," the Ateneo dean said.

The Ateneo dean served as the spokesperson of the Philippine delegation to the 21st Conference of Parties in Paris last year.

La Viña worked with the World Resources Institute in Washington for eight years prior to becoming dean of the Ateneo School of Government.

The Philippines has an ongoing arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The international tribunal is expected to release a decision on the case by May. - Patricia Lourdes Viray

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