City readies traffic plan for Bar exams

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government will enforce strict traffic measures this weekend for the 2026 Bar Examinations at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus.

The outermost southbound lane of N. Bacalso Avenue will be closed, and an examinee-only lane will operate from 2 a.m. to 7 p.m. on September 6, 9, and 13.

Police, traffic enforcers, and disaster response units will be deployed to manage congestion and ensure security.

The Supreme Court first regionalized the Bar Examinations in February 2022, with Cebu City among the 28 testing centers nationwide.

That same year, three universities, University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, and USJ-R, hosted the exams, marking the first time the Bar was held outside Metro Manila.

Since then, Cebu has consistently hosted the Bar, until last year when USJ-R Basak was left as the host for back-to-back years.

The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has advised the public to “expect temporary traffic slowdowns and access restrictions in the vicinity of USJ-R-Basak campus during the conduct of the 2026 Bar Examinations on September 6, 9 and 13, 2026 from 2 am to 7 pm”.

Extensive security preparations are also in place, with the Cebu City Police Office set to deploy over a hundred officers, including SWAT, EOD, and intelligence units, on exam days.

The Anti-Noise Ordinance and a liquor ban within a 100-meter radius of USJ-R will be enforced from midnight until the end of each exam day.

Ambulances from the Disaster Risk Reduction Office and fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection will also be on standby.

The traffic scheme this year is consistent with the measures imposed in 2023, when USJ-R Basak also used N. Bacalso Avenue’s rightmost lane as a drop-off zone.

“Drivers travelling within and around the Basak area are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly,” part of CCTO’s advisory reads.

With this, everyone is encouraged to add travel time, use alternate routes, and strictly follow directions set by the city’s traffic personnel and other authorized event marshals. — /IHM (FREEMAN)