Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 4) — More than 7,000 law graduates are scheduled to take the 2017 Bar exams on Sunday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
The examinations will take place on Sundays — November 5, 12, 19, and 26.
According to the Supreme Court (SC) Public Information Office, the number of Bar examinees this year, 7,227, is higher than the past three years with 6,831 examinees on 2016, 7,146 on 2015, and 6,344 on 2014.
The exam will cover Political Law, Labor Law, Civil Law, Taxation, Mercantile Law, Criminal Law, Remedial Law, and Legal and Judicial Ethics.
The SC Office of the Bar Confidant has also released the guide and rules of conduct for the examinees.
“UST’s España gates open at 5:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on examination days and close thirty (30) minutes before the given examination time. After the gates close, no one will be allowed to enter without the permission of the Bar Chairman or in his absence, the Bar Confidant,” it read.
All examinees are also directed to use transparent or see-through bags, pouches, or other containers for their belongings.
With UST’s well-known flooding problems during rainy weather, the SC has put contingency measures in place during the exam dates.
Ten SC shuttle buses will be deployed on the morning of Bar examination days for personnel and examinees in case of heavy rain.
The pick-up points for the shuttle buses, which will be stationed as early as 5 a.m. and will leave at exactly 5:30 a.m., are the following:
Quezon City Memorial Circle
Park and Ride in Lawton, Manila
SC Compound in Taft Avenue
Coastal Mall Terminal in Parañaque City
EDSA Magallanes Flyover in Pasay City
Greenbelt and Gloriette in Ayala Center, Makati City, and
Marikina Sports Complex
“In order to avail of this service, they must present their Notice of Admission, Gate Pass and/or ID card, as the case may be, to the bus driver before being allowed to board,” read the contingency plan.
If there is flooding inside the university compound, commuter vans provided by the SC will transport examinees and personnel from the UST gates to their respective examination buildings.
The SC said on the second day of Bar exams, November 12, one of the routes, Roxas Boulevard, will be closed to traffic due to the 31st ASEAN Summit.
Manila Police District Spokesperson Erwin Margarejo on Saturday said 700 police personnel will be used on the entire duration of the Bar exams.
Margarejo said they will also deploy covert security personnel and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.
All tasked personnel will strictly implement the policy of bringing no tents and tarpaulins, no drinking of intoxicated beverages, and no playing of loud music, at the vicinity of UST during the duration of the Bar examination.
The police will also use CCTV cameras for additional security around the university.
Margarejo added medical personnel will provide health services for emergency cases.
