ILOILO City – The city government has moved to safeguard the solemnity of the 2025 Philippine Bar Exams, rolling out strict measures that include a liquor ban, noise restrictions, and tighter crowd control around Central Philippine University (CPU), one of the country’s designated testing centers.
Mayor Raisa Treñas issued three Executive Orders (EOs) aimed at minimizing distractions and ensuring order on Sept. 7, 10, and 14, when thousands of law graduates will sit for the grueling national examinations.
“The Office of the Bar chairperson, Hon. Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, requests the following: personnel augmentation, road closures, establishments of police and traffic situations, crowd control management, health protocols, public information, and coordination with external agencies,” according to the orders.
Under EO No. 57, the sale and consumption of liquor are prohibited within a 500-meter radius of CPU from midnight of Sept. 6, 9, and 13 until 11:59 p.m. of Sept. 7, 10, and 14.
EO No. 58, meanwhile, directs businesses to avoid unnecessary noise, while contractors are ordered to suspend construction and maintenance work near the university during the exam days.
The order also bans videoke machines, wireless microphones, and other gadgets that could disturb examinees during test hours.
EO No. 59 created a coordinating committee chaired by Treñas and co-chaired by City Administrator Melchor Tan, with city and national government agencies tasked to oversee security, traffic, health, disaster risk management, and public information.
By clamping down on potential disturbances, the city hopes to provide a stress-free environment for examinees—recognizing that every detail counts in one of the most important professional milestones for future lawyers./PN