CEBU, Philippines — The first ever regionalized Bar Examinations kicked off to a smooth start on Friday, February 4, in Cebu City where three universities hosted at least 1,000 examinees from within and outside Region 7.
Nationwide, Day 1 of the two-day exams recorded a 96.5 percent turnout even as several Bar candidates were unable to participate owing to a positive result in their COVID-19 test. Day 2 will be on Sunday, February 6.
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, chairperson of the 2020/21 Bar exams, said 11,378 examinees were able to on the first day of the exams at 31 testing sites spread across 22 local government units in the Philippines.
In pre-pandemic days, the examinations were administered for four Sundays only in Metro Manila.
Hosting the exams in Cebu City are the University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, and University of San Jose-Recoletos.
“Everything went smoothly as planned. As early as alas 5 a.m., didto nako sa San Jose, maayo ang pagpahigayon didto... Smooth kaayo ang linya, kumpleto sad atong personnel didto, atong DMS, QRT, CCTO, police and barangays… Our CCMC medtech also inside,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, head of the city’s COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Portions of roads directly in front of host universities were closed off to general traffic to secure the examinations. Garganera said establishments near the UC campus in Barangay Banilad were supportive of the exams, offering parking spaces to examinees.
“Grabe sad ang suporta sa other establishments sa area, offering parking spaces,” he said.
Aside from the EOC personnel and police at the exam sites, personnel of Visayan Electric were also on standby in case of power interruption.
Host universities, though, have standby generators in case of a power outage. Many areas in Cebu suffered from massive power outage following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December.
COVID protocols
With the country still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, strict health protocols were observed, including the administration of an RT-PCR or antigen test at Department of Health-accredited facilities.
Of the 8,461 who underwent antigen testing provided by the Supreme Court, 1.36 percent tested positive.
Examinees who have recovered from COVID-19 recently and still got positive results in the antigen test were allowed to take the exams provided they are able to show proof of completion of the mandatory isolation period.
No special exam
The Supreme Court did not grant the request of examinees who tested positive for COVID to take the exams in isolation in separate rooms.
In Cebu City, as early as last year, the EOC proposed to have a separate room for examinees who will test positive in the COVID test but this was turned down by the Supreme Court as not all local government units hosting the exam were willing to do the same.
“Kahit masakit sa aming loob na di magpapasok ng reviewee na nag-aral ng dalawang taon, kami ay isang institusyon na kailangan pangalagaan ang aming rationale. Ang aming rationale is the application of the law,” Leonen said.
Leonen also turned down the possibility of conducting a special exam for those who tested positive for the virus.
“This is not like a quiz or periodical exam that there will be a special exam because we have a set of examiners that are selected for each Bar exam,” Leonen said.
The application fees of those who missed the exams due to COVID-19 will be refunded accordingly.
“I cannot sleep in the past few days because I am thinking what else we can do except to say that we may return the application fee,” Leonen said.
Under the Omnibus COVID-19 protocols for the Bar exams, no more test will be conducted for Day 2 of the exams.
Those who will show some symptoms will be allowed to take the exams but will be brought to isolation rooms.
Leonen said they will assess Day 1 of the exams and see what can be improved for Day 2 on Sunday.
“But so far, I am personally so very satisfied and so very proud of the team and the various Bar personnel that we have recruited or volunteered,” he said. – Decemay P. Padilla, JMO (FREEMAN)