THE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday clarified that the 2022 Bar examinations will proceed as scheduled even as the country is still reeling from the devastation caused by severe tropical storm “Paeng,” which left almost 100 people dead and 1.8 million individuals affected.
“The 2022 Bar exams will proceed on November 9, 13, 16, and 20 as originally scheduled and announced Bar Bulletin No. 6, S. 2022,” said SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka.
The same Bar bulletin, however, stated that the exams might still be rescheduled due to “unforeseen circumstances and contingencies.”
Hosaka earlier said it would check with the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) if there were requests to reschedule the Bar following the onslaught of Paeng.
“I think it would be premature to say the OBC has received a formal request or petition on this considering the official holidays. I would have to wait for November 2 to be able to respond to your question,” Hosaka said.
Around 10,000 law graduates are expected to take the 2022 Bar examinations starting next week.
This year’s Bar exams will be held under a “regionalized and digitalized” set up, which was first adopted in the 2020-2021 Bar exams held in February of this year.
The SC decided to use the said set-up in the 2020 and 2021 Bar exams due to the health and travel restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The SC earlier announced that it has designated 14 testing centers across the country for the 2022 Bar examinations.