Not only the devastation wrought by typhoon “Paeng,” but also several other factors were considered by the Supreme Court (SC) in its decision to pursue the 2022 online and regionalized Bar examinations in 14 testing centers nationwide on Nov. 9, 13, 16, and 20.

In a statement, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caquioa – chairperson of the 2022 Bar examinations committee – said his office “has been informally receiving word on the call on social media for the postponement of the 2022 Bar Examinations due to the damage and flooding brought on by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (STS Paeng).”

Caguioa said his office also took note of Proclamation No. 84, s. 2022 dated Nov. 2, 2022, which placed Regions IV-A (CALABARZON), V (Bicol Region), VI (Western Visayas) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under a state of calamity.

“Truly, the Court is aware that the entire country continues to reel with countless calls for help and donations ringing out across the nation,” he said.

To address the issue, Caguioa said his office as Bar committee chairperson “immediately undertook the surveying of all the Local Testing Centers (LTCs) and all the Local Government Units (LGUs) covering said LTCs.”

“Importantly, all the LGUs and all the LTCs categorically indicated that they remain prepared and ready to participate in the 2022 Bar Examinations as scheduled,” he said.

He pointed out that “for purposes of ensuring the fairness of each decision that may be made with respect to the Bar Examinations, the Court, in balancing the needs of all the examinees, has considered both those who may have been adversely affected by STS Paeng and are informally requesting its postponement, as well as those who are keen on taking it as scheduled, lest their lives be put on hold for longer.”

“The Court also recognizes that it must consider the hundreds of personnel and volunteers who have rearranged their professional and personal lives in order to serve and contribute to the success of the Bar Examinations this November,” he said.

Caguioa added: “Still more, the Court acknowledges that any postponement of the upcoming Bar Examinations will have ripple effects on, among others, the annual Bar Examinations, the next succeeding schedule of which is in September 2023.”

“Taking all of these under consideration, it is the examined position of the Court that the 2022 Bar Examinations on November 9, 13, 16 and 20, 2022 will push through as scheduled,” he said.

But, Caguioa said, the SC has decided that “examinees who may be unable to take the 2022 Bar Examinations as scheduled... may apply for a refund of their Bar fees with the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) through their BAR Plus registered email addresses.”

“At the option of the examinee, the bar fees paid may also be applied to the forthcoming Bar Examinations scheduled in September 2023,” he said.

Requests and other concerns may be coursed through https://bit.ly/2022BarExamHelpDesk and OBC Helpdesk at (02) 8552-96-90 / (02) 8552-96-42.

The SC also said through Caguioa:

“The Court recognizes the great odds that lie ahead, made greater for examinees by the passing of the recent storms.

“The recent tragedies suffered by the nation also betray a certain savagery to this profession – in that we must keep on in the face of devastation, and strive to endure against unprecedented loss.

“And yet, these odds call truer still the fact that indeed, nothing is lost while courage remains. May courage and clarity be upon us all.”

A total of 9,916 law graduates is expected to take the Bar exams.

The examination periods will be from 8 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The subjects covered on Nov. 9 are Political Law and International Law, morning, and Labor Law, afternoon; Nov. 13, Criminal Law (and practical exercises), morning, and Commercial law, afternoon; Nov. 16, Civil Law I, morning, and Civil Law II (and practical exercises), afternoon; and Nov. 20, Remedial Law I, morning, and Remedial Law II (with basic tax remedies) and Legal Ethics, afternoon.

The local testing centers (LTCs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) are in the San Beda University, 638 Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila; De la Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 1004 Manila; Manila Adventist College, 1975 Corner San Juan & Donada Streets, Pasay City; Ateneo Junior and High School Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City; and the University of the Philippines – Bonifacio Global City, 14th Drive, University Parkway District, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

In Luzon the LTCs are in Saint Louis University, A. Bonifacio Street, 2600 Baguio City; De la Salle Lipa, 1962 J.P. Laurel Highway, Lipa City, 4217 Batangas; and the University of Nueva Caceres, J. Hernandez Avenue, Naga City, Camarines Sur.

The LTCs in the Visayas are in University of Cebu, M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City; University of San Carlos, Hoerdemann Law and Business Building, Pelaez Street, Cebu City; and in Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, Calanipawan Road, Barangay Calanipawan, Tacloban City.

In Mindanao, the LCTS are in Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, 73 Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City; Ateneo de Davao University - Senior High School, McArthur Highway, Bangkal, Davao City; and in Ateneo de Zamboanga University, La Purisima Street, Zamboanga City, 7000 Zamboanga del Sur.

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