SC: 8,245 candidates taking 2019 Bar exams

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court, through the Office of the Bar Confidant, on Thursday announced that 8,245 candidates are scheduled to take the 2019 Bar examinations this November.

The Bar exams will be held on all four Sundays of November at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in España, Manila.

Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Ma. Cristina B. Layusa said that contingency plans are also in place in case of heavy rain and flooding.

Among the measures to be implemented are the deployment of Supreme Court buses which would be stationed in different areas in Metro Manila that would transport candidates and duty personnel to UST.

The buses are stationed as early as 4:30 a.m. and would leave at 5 a.m., with boarding on a first-come, first-served basis.

Those who wish to board the buses must present their Notice of Admission, Gate Pass and/or identification cards, Layusa said.

The pick-up stations are as follows:

• Quezon City Memorial Circle (two buses);
• Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila (one bus);
• Supreme Court Compound, Taft Avenue (two buses);
• EDSA Magallanes Flyover (beneath the Flyover),Pasay (two buses);
• Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati (two buses); and
• Marikina Sports Complex (one bus)

If flooding is experienced in and around the UST campus, Supreme Court commuter vans will be available to transport candidates and duty personnel from UST gates to the exam venues.

Supreme Court commuter vans and buses will also be available after the exams in case of heavy rain and flooding.

Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, who serves as the 2019 Bar exam chairperson, earlier sought the help of Manila city government for tighter security during the conduct of the exam.

In 2018, 1,800 of the 8, 155 examinees passed the exam, or a passing rate of 22.07 percent. /gsg