TSU signs agreement for mutual cooperation with ASEAN legal network  

The Tarlac State University and the ASEAN Legal Alliance, a Singapore-based network of more than 150 lawyers in 10 countries in the ASEAN region, have entered into a memorandum of understanding for “mutually beneficial outcome in relation to international arbitration and international dispute resolution.”

TSU President, Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari, and Professor Steve K. Ngo, chair of ALA’s arbitration and international dispute resolution practice group, signed the MOU on September 18 at the TSU main campus in Tarlac City.

The president said the MOU “is a good thing for the university” and expressed gratitude to Prof. Ngo for “considering TSU.”

Atty. Jose I. dela Rama, Jr., the Dean of the TSU College of Law who introduced Prof. Ngo to the university, said that with the MOU signing “we’re making history.”

The MOU aims to establish cooperation between TSU and ALA in terms of joint training programs on international arbitration and dispute resolution, student internships and faculty visits, and research and publication, among others.

The signing was made possible through the efforts of Atty. Dela Rama and Dr. Louella F. Ona, Vice President for International Linkages and External Affairs.

According to its website (aseanlegalalliance.net), the ALA network has the following members: Cheok Advocates and Solicitors (based in Brunei Darussalam); HML Law Firm & Consultants (Cambodia); Fitrisyah Winata & Partners (Indonesia); Lao Law & Consultancy Group (Laos); Yeoh Mazlina & Partners (Malaysia); U Min Sein Law Offices (Myanmar); Lex Alliance Advisory Limited (Myanmar); De Guzman San Diego Mejia & Hernandez Law Offices (Philippines); Aquinas Law Alliance LLP (Singapore); Apisith & Alliance Ltd (Thailand); and Indochine Counsel (Vietnam). [OPAI]