To be held in three Cebu Universities: All set for Bar Exams

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu will host over a thousand examinees of the 2020-21 Bar Examinations on February 4 and 6, 2022 – the first time the Supreme Court will hold the exams outside of Metro Manila.

There will be three testing sites: The University of Cebu - Banilad Campus, the University of San Carlos - downtown campus, and the University of San Jose-Recoletos- Basak Campus.

“We’ve been planning this over a year na. It was postponed many times so we’re ready. Cebu City is very much ready as well as our Supreme Court personnel… Primordially, mao gyud na siya – all set na, especially sa pagpatuman sa health protocols. We’ve been coordinating closely with the Supreme Court personnel, the universities, and the different volunteers – mga lawyers ni sila for the said exam.

Strict gyud na among protocols diha,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, chief of the Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Bar candidates who will take the exam in Cebu come from within Region 7 and from outside the region. There are 31 Bar sites across the Philippines.

Security

The EOC held its final meeting yesterday together with representatives from the Supreme Court; the police, traffic group; security personnel of the three universities; and captains of Barangays Banilad, Kamagayan, and Basak Pardo where the universities are located.

“We discussed about the security measures as well as the traffic management surrounding the different testing sites for the smooth flow of the Bar Exams,” Garganera said.

Pelaez Street and Sanciangko Street will be closed to traffic from February 4 to 6, from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Diri sa San Carlos, starting Friday 4 a.m. until 8 p.m., that road kaning sa Pelaez ug sa Sanciangko where San Carlos is will be closed to both the pedestrian and the traffic commuters. Only those who have ID’s, gate pass, are allowed to enter so nobody is allowed to roam around the perimeter of the testing centers,” Garganera said.

At least 200 police personnel from the Cebu City Police Office will be deployed at the three testing sites.

Noise

"Ato ni ipahibalo sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga kung duna moy tuyo or naa moy lakaw likayan ning dalan nato sa Pelaez ug sa Sanciangko during these days kay ato ni sya i-close during the exam aron atong mga examinee maka-focus sa exam, walay saba," said Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla.

No road will be closed near UC Banilad but vehicles will be barred from using horns. Motorists who will violate this rule will be apprehended.

To ensure further that the areas of the exam sites will be free from noise, the city police will be strict in enforcing existing city ordinances like the ban on karaoke.

COVID Rules

The EOC will also assign doctors, Quick Response Team and Emergency Medical System personnel, and ambulances at the three universities. They will assist in testing of bar candidates for COVID-19 on February 2 and 3.

According to the Supreme Court’s Bar Bulletin No. 37 series of 2022 or the Omnibus COVID-19 protocols for the 2020/21 bar exams, as a general rule, all fully vaccinated examinees are required to obtain a negative antigen test result within 48 hours before 4 a.m. of February 4. This is unless the local government unit prescribes an earlier testing date.

The Supreme Court will provide antigen testing, but examinees may present a negative antigen test result obtained from any Department of Health (DOH)-accredited facility as long as it is taken within the prescribed period.

Those who opt to do RT-PCR may do so within 72 hours before 4 a.m. of February 4.

If a fully-vaccinated examinee gets a positive antigen test result, he or she may undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test from a DOH-accredited testing facility. However, if no RT-PCR test is available, the antigen test will be deemed conclusive, thus, the candidate may be denied from taking the exam.

If the RT-PCR shows a negative result before February 4, the candidate will be allowed to enter the testing center, subject to medical assessment if required by the local government unit.

 Bar candidates who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated are required to show a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before 4 a.m. of February 4.

Regardless of vaccination status and test results, examinees who are symptomatic upon entry into the testing centers on the examination dates will have to undergo medical assessment. If required to do antigen onsite, a positive result will prevail over a prior negative COVID-19 test result.

A positive result will bar the candidate from taking the exam.

The Supreme Court also has special rules set for examinees who had contracted COVID-19 in the past.

“Presenting or attempting to present a false declaration, letter, or certificate, as well as making a false statement, shall be considered a breach of the Honor Code. Any examinee who knows of someone who commits any of these acts but has neglected to report such breach shall also be considered in breach of the Honor Code,” reads part of the bar bulletin.

At the testing sites, examinees are required to wear face masks except when eating or drinking and have to be at least two meters away from each other.

“Remember that any exercise of a right or privilege is always balanced with the necessity to protect the safety of our families and the communities we live in. None of us will thrive if we recklessly endanger our society,” said Associate Justice and 2020/21 Bar Examinations chairperson Marvic Leonon.- Iris Hazel M. Mascardo, Decemay P. Padilla, JMO (FREEMAN)