Supreme Court to release 2023 Bar results before Christmas

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) hopes to release the results of the 2023 Bar examinations by early December.

“The time spent by the examinees waiting in agony for the results of the exams will be cut short,” Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando said during a press conference at San Beda College-Alabang yesterday, the first day of the exams.

“Moreover, there will be simultaneous oath-taking and signing of the Roll of Attorneys in December also before Christmas day so that we will have our new batch of full-fledged lawyers before the year ends,” he added.

The Bar exams will continue on Sept. 20 and 24.

This is the first time that the examinations will be conducted on three non-consecutive days across eight days. In the pre-pandemic setup, the Bar exams were administered by the court on four consecutive Sundays of the month.

“In our experience, (the four-day schedule) is proven to be very taxing, expensive, and exhausting, not just on the part of the Supreme Court and administrators, but more so on our examinees,” Justice Hernando said.

As of yesterday, there were a total of 10,791 examinees. Of that number, 5,821 are taking the Bar for the first time, while 4,970 are taking the exam for at least the second time.

There are over 2,571 Bar personnel deployed nationwide to assist in conducting this year’s examinations.

The SC will oversee the operations of regional testing sites at San Beda College-Alabang, which has been selected as the national headquarters for the 2023 Bar examinations.

Aside from San Beda College-Alabang, there are 14 local testing centers across the country assigned to administer the exams.

Meanwhile, a liquor ban signed on Sept. 15 has been imposed by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna for the duration of the Bar exams in the city.

Establishments selling alcohol products are banned within a 500-meter radius of the University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc and San Beda University in Mendiola.

Videoke, karaoke and sound systems, as well as disruptive activities, are also banned. — Mark Ernest Villeza