Heavy traffic expected around UST as bar examinations start

Heavy traffic is expected today near and around the University of Santo Tomas (UST) as around 6,200 law graduates take the bar exams starting today and in the next three Sundays of the month, an advisory from the Supreme Court media office said yesterday.

Quoting UST officials, the advisory said heavy traffic was expected along España Boulevard, Lacson Street, Padre Noval Street, and Dapitan Street, and may even extend to Quiapo and Blumentritt.

All UST gates, except those on Lacson and on P. Noval Gate, which are nearest to the UST Hospital and to the Santissimo Rosario Church, respectively, will be closed during the bar exams, the advisory said.

The office of Justice Roberto A. Abad, chairperson of the 2011 Committee on Bar Examinations, also announced that the España gates will be open only to bar candidates and bar personnel, the advisory said.

“The P. Noval gates for parishioners and only during Mass hours; the Lacson gates, for hospital patrons; and the Dapitan gate only for lunchtime. Street parking along the corners of UST shall also not be allowed,’” it added.

The bar advisory also said that bar examinees assigned to Room 412 of St. Raymund’s Building (AB Commerce) will be transferred to Room 116 of the same building.

It reiterated the ban against bar operations within UST’s vicinity, including setting up of banners, streamers, or tents “along the corners of UST,” loud music or any kind of noise, and loitering.

The list of the 6,200 admitted candidates in the 2011 Bar Examinations may be viewed at sc.judiciary.gov.ph, the official website of the Supreme Court.

For today, examinees will take their tests on Political and International Law, and Labor and Social Legislation in the morning and Taxation in the afternoon.

On Nov. 13, they would take Civil Law (morning) and Mercantile Law (afternoon) while, on Nov. 20, they would have Remedial Law, and Legal Ethics and Forms (morning) and Criminal Law (afternoon).

On the fourth and final day (Nov. 27), they will take their exams on Trial Memorandum in the morning and Legal Opinion in the afternoon.