The three-day 2024 online Bar examinations will be conducted by the Supreme Court (SC) starting Sunday, Sept. 8, in 13 local testing centers (LTCs) nationwide.
A total of 12,246 law graduates have registered for the examinations which will also be held on Sept. 11 and 15.
It is expected that the results of the examinations will be announced before the year ends, and that the oath taking and signing of the roll of attorneys would be held immediately thereafter.
The SC had earlier announced that the LTCs in the National Capital Region are at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City; University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc, Manila; San Beda University in San Miguel, Manila; Manila Adventist College in Pasay City; University of the Philippines in Bonifacio Global City; and San Beda College in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
The LTCs in Luzon are at the Saint Louis University in Baguio City and at the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City.
In the Visayas, the LCTs are at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Basak Campus in Cebu City; Central Philippine University in Jaro, Iloilo City; and Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City.
The LCTs in Mindanao are at the Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City and Ateneo de Davao University, Senior High School Campus in Bangkal, Davao City.
SC Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, chairperson of the 2024 Bar examinations committee, said: “The social and economic benefits of providing regional sites for the examinations cannot be overemphasized. This innovation reduced the logistical, financial, and emotional burdens of bar candidates from the provinces.”
Just like in the 2023 examinations, there will be six core subjects in the 2024 Bar exams -- Political and Public International Law, Commercial and Taxation Laws, Civil Law, Labor Law and Social Legislation, Criminal Law, Remedial Law, and Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises.
The Manila City local government had announced it will implement road closures and rerouting of some roads near UST during the three-day Bar exams.
The two westbound lanes of España Boulevard from Lacson Avenue to Padre Noval Street will be open for drop-off and pick-up only from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The road on Dapitan Street from Lacson Avenue to Padre Noval Street will be closed from 2 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All westbound lanes from Lacson Avenue to Padre Noval Street will be closed from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 15.
The Quezon City government had advised motorists to expect heavy traffic around the UP Diliman campus.
It said that traffic is expected along University Avenue, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue.
It also said that to manage the traffic flow, personnel from the Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD) and the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) will be deployed in the affected areas.
In Pasay City, San Juan Street from Donada Street to Leveriza Street at the Manila Adventist College in Pasay City will be closed to traffic from 3:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Muntinlupa City government had announced that a liquor ban will be implemented for the orderly conduct of the 2024 Bar exams.
It said that based on Executive Order No. 45 issued in 2023, liquor ban will be imposed within a 500-meter radius from San Beda College-Alabang on Sept. 7 starting at 10 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 8; Sept. 10, 10 p.m. to Sept. 11, 10 p.m.; and Sept. 14, 10 p.m. to Sept. 15, 10 p.m.
It is expected that other areas where the Bar exams will be held will also issue traffic advisories.