SC warns of heavy traffic during Bar exams at UST

The Supreme Court on Friday warned motorists against heavy traffic within the vicinity of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila where the 2011 Bar Examinations will take place in next four Sundays of November. Traffic is expected to be heaviest on streets surrounding the university, namely: España Boulevard, Lacson Street, P. Noval Street, and Dapitan Street. "This may even extend to Quiapo and Blumentritt," the court added in an advisory. School gates along the surrounding streets, except for Lacson and P. Noval, will be closed to the public during the four Sundays. The España gate will only be open to Bar examinees and Bar personnel during the exams. The P. Noval gate will be open to parishioners during mass hours, while the Lacson gate will be open to hospital patrons, and the Dapitan gate will be open during lunchtime. "Street parking along the corners of UST shall also not be allowed," according to an advisory from the Office of Justice Roberto Abad, chair of the 2011 Bar Exam committee. From Rm. 412 to Rm. 116 The Bar advisory also announced that Bar examinees originally assigned to Room 412 of St. Raymund's Building (AB Commerce) will be transferred to Room 116 of the same building. The court has already banned festive celebrations that are part of traditional "bar operations" — such as setting up of streamers, sendoffs, cheering squads, and tents "along the corners of UST" — around the venue of the scheduled exams for law graduates. Loud music or any kind of noise and loitering are also banned. Some 6,200 law graduates are expected to take this year’s Bar exam at the UST, the new venue of the exams, on Nov. 6, 13, 20, and 27. The schedule of this year's examinations is as follows:

• Day 1 (Nov. 6): Political and International Law, and Labor and Social Legislation (morning) and Taxation (afternoon)
• Day 2 (Nov. 13): Civil Law (morning) and Mercantile Law (afternoon);
• Day 3 (Nov. 20): Remedial Law, and Legal Ethics and Forms (morning) and Criminal Law (afternoon)
• Day 4 (Nov. 27): Trial Memorandum (morning) and Legal Opinion (afternoon).