Road closures, alternative routes for Bar exams

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) has deployed 400 of its personnel for the conduct of the Bar exams today and the next three Sundays.

It has also announced the road closures in Manila for the Bar exams to be held on Nov. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

In a statement, MPD director Chief Superintendent Rolando Anduyan said some 400 police officers will be deployed for the next four weekends to secure the Bar exams.

An advance command post and emergency lane will also be set up at 7 a.m. today.

The MPD will also deploy bomb experts around UST in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force, Philippine Coast Guard, National Bureau of Investigation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Highway Patrol Group, among others.

The MPD Traffic Enforcement Unit will also close the westbound lane of España Boulevard, from A.H. Lacson to P. Noval streets, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Motorists may take the following alternative routes – those from the southbound lane of A.H Lacson Avenue may use Nagtahan while those from the westbound lane of España Boulevard may turn right on A.H Lacson, left on Laong-Laan and proceed to A. Mendoza.

Parking will not be allowed within the vicinity of UST (España Boulevard, A.H. Lacson Avenue, Dapitan and P. Noval streets).

The Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Confidant said there will be 8,701 examinees for this year’s Bar exams, “the highest number of Bar candidates in recent years.”

There were 6,831 examinees in 2016 and 6,748 examinees last year.

The SC would deploy buses to transport the examinees and duty personnel to UST from several pick-up points in case of heavy rains.

During the four Sundays of the exams, buses would be stationed as early as 4:30 a.m. at the Quezon Memorial Circle near the Philippine Coconut Authority; Park and Ride in Lawton, Manila; SC New Building compound on Taft Avenue; Greenbelt and Glorietta at the Ayala Center in Makati; and the Marikina Sports Complex. They are scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. – Evelyn Macairan