SC prepares contigency transport of bar examinees, personnel

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has readied contingency plans for weather disturbance on the 2017 bar examinations, starting on November 5.

Ten SC buses will be deployed to transport bar examinees and duty personnel to the University of Santo Tomas for the 117th Bar Examinations. The grueling four-day exam covers the four Sundays of November.

Bar Bulletin No. 22, signed by Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confident Ma. Cristina B. Layusa, listed the following pick-up points:

• Quezon City Memorial Circle (two buses)
• Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila (one bus)
• Supreme Court Compound, Taft Avenue (two buses)
• Coastal Mall Terminal, Parañaque (two buses), for November 5, 19 and 26
• EDSA Magallanes Flyover (beneath the Flyover), Pasay (two buses), for November 12
• Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati (two buses)
• Marikina Sports Complex (one bus)

The buses will be at the pick-up locations as early as 5:00 a.m. and will leave at exactly 5:30 a.m.

"Only bar examinees and duty personnel are allowed to ride the shuttle buses. The boarding shall be made on a first come, first served basis," the SC said.

Those who wish to avail of the bus service should present their Notice of Admission, Gate Pass and/or ID card to the bus driver.

Van services will also be made available in case of flooding inside the UST compound before the examination. Examinees and personnel will be transported from the UST gates to their respective examination buildings.

"Priority in the use of commuter vans shall be given to senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disability (PWDs)," Layusa added.

"In case flooding persists after the end of the examinations on any given examination day, the SC commuter vans on standby at each examination building in UST shall be available to transport back bar examinees and duty personnel to the Osmeña and Arellano Drives near Gate 5 on España Boulevard, where the SC shuttle buses are parked," Layusa also said.

Drop off areas are as follows:

• Quezon City memorial circle for north-bound passengers
• Park and Ride in Lawton, Supreme Court premises for south-bound passengers
• Coastal Mall Terminal, Parañaque (November 5, 19, 26)
• EDSA Magallanes Flyover (beneath the flyover),  Pasay (November 12)
• Ayala Center (Glorietta and Greenbelt)
• Marikina Sports Complex

The SC, in an earlier issued advisory, also warned examinees of Roxas Boulevard closure due to the 31st ASEAN Summit.

A total of 7,227 graduates have applied for the 116th Bar Examinations. The grueling four-day exam covers eight subjects: Political law, labor law, civil law, taxation, mercantile law, criminal law, remedial law and legal and judicial ethics.