Bar exams begin November 4

NEARLY 9,000 law graduates are expected to take the 2019 Bar Examination this November, the Supreme Court (SC) through the Office of the Bar Confidant announced on Wednesday, October 31.

According to the Office of the Bar Confidant, a total of 8,701 candidates will take the examinations which will be held at the University of Santo Tomas in España, Manila on all four Sundays of November (November 4, 11, 18, and 25).

This is the highest number of Bar candidates in recent years, said the SC. Last year, 6,748 law graduates took the examinations.

Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Ma. Cristina Layusa reminded the Bar candidates and duty personnel of the contingency plan for the Bar exams in case of heavy rains and flooding.

She said 10 SC buses shall be available to transport examinees and duty personnel to the UST from several pick-up points in case of heavy rains in the morning of a Bar examination day.

The buses will be stationed at the following areas: Quezon City Memorial Circle near Philippine Coconut Authority (two buses); Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila (one bus); SC New Building Compound, Taft Avenue (two buses); Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati (two buses); and Marikina Sports Complex (one bus).

The buses shall be stationed as early as 4:30 a.m. and will leave the said areas at exactly 5 a.m. Boarding shall be on a first-come, first-served basis.

To avail of this service, examiners must present their Notice of Admission, Gate Pass or identification cards to the bus driver.

In case of flooding inside the UST compound before the start of the exams, SC commuter vans shall also be available to transport examinees and duty personnel from the UST gates to their respective examination buildings. Senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disability (PWDs) shall be prioritized in the use of the commuter vans.

These vans shall also be available at each examination building to transport Bar examinees and duty personnel back to Osmeña and Arellano Drives near Gate 5 along España where the SC shuttle buses are parked, in case there are flooding inside the university after the exams.

The SC shuttle buses will transport and drop off examiners in the following areas: northbound passengers shall be transported up to QC Memorial Circle (near Philippine Coconut Authority) while southbound passengers at Park and Ride, Lawton, Supreme Court premises, and at the EDSA Magallanes Flyover (beneath the Flyover) in Pasay. For passengers going to the Makati area, the drop-off area shall be at the Ayala Center (Glorietta and Greenbelt), while those going to the Marikina area shall be at the Marikina Sports Complex.

The 2018 Bar Examinations Committee chairman is Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo. He replaced 2017 Bar Examinations Committee chairman Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin. (SunStar Philippines)