Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Court
Manila

OFFICE OF THE 2020/21 BAR CHAIRPERSON

BAR BULLETIN NO. 23, S. 2021

LOCAL TESTING CENTERS

FOR THE 2020/21 BAR EXAMINATIONS

In view of Bar Matter No. 3490, Regionalization of the Next Bar

Examinations, and to significantly reduce the examinees’ travel and accommodation
expenses, as well as minimize their transit to comply with public health guidelines
in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020/21 Bar Examinations will be held in
several local testing centers in different regions across the country.

On March 11, 2021, the Office of the Bar Chairperson issued Bar Bulletin No.
19, inviting institutions to apply as local testing centers based on specific indicative
requirements.1 After assessment, negotiations, and initial ocular inspections, the
following institutions have been approved to be local testing centers for the 2020/21
Bar Examinations as of August 18, 2021, with their maximum available slots:
 
National Capital Region

1. Ateneo de Manila University Law School, Ateneo Professional Schools

Building, 20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City (maximum 269
slots)

2. Manila Adventist College, 1975 San Juan Street, Pasay City (maximum 450
slots)

3. University of Makati, J.P. Rizal Extension, West Rembo, Makati City

(maximum 1,000 slots)

4. Far Eastern University, Nicanor Reyes, Sampaloc, Manila (maximum 600

slots)

 
1
See Annex A of Bar Bulletin No. 19, series of 2021.
 5. University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila (maximum
500 slots)

Cordillera Administrative Region

6. St. Louis University School of Law, A. Bonifacio Street, Baguio City

(maximum 1,035 slots)

Region 1 (Ilocos Region)

7. St. Louis College, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union (maximum 1,280
slots)

Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)

8. Cagayan State University College of Law, Carig Campus - Carig Sur,

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (maximum 421 slots)

9. St. Mary’s University College of Law, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

(maximum 259 slots)

Region 4A (CALABARZON)

10. De La Salle University – Lipa, 1962 Pres. J.P. Laurel National Highway, Lipa
City, Batangas (maximum 1,125 slots)

Region 4B (MIMAROPA)

11. City College of Calapan, Barangay Guinobatan, Calapan City, Oriental

Mindoro (maximum 200 slots)

Region 5 (Bicol Region)

12. University of Nueva Caceres, J. Hernandez Avenue, Naga, Camarines Sur

(maximum 1,000 slots)

Region 6 (Western Visayas)

13. Central Philippine University, University Avenue, Jaro, Iloilo City, Iloilo
(maximum 475 slots)

14. University of St. La Salle, La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
(maximum 1,340 slots)

Region 7 (Central Visayas)

15. University of San Jose Recoletos – Basak Campus, N. Bacalso Street, Basak,
Pardo, Cebu City (maximum 600 slots)
 16. University of Cebu School of Law, UC Banilad, M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad,
Cebu City (maximum 1,000 slots)

17. University of San Carlos School of Law and Governance, University of San
Carlos Law Building, Pelaez Street, Cebu City (maximum 200 slots)

18. Silliman University College of Law, 1 Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City,

Negros Oriental (maximum 1,000 slots)

Region 8 (Eastern Visayas)

19. Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, Calanipawan Road,

Barangay Calanipawan, Tacloban City, Leyte (maximum 400 slots)

Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula)

20. Ateneo de Zamboanga University, La Purisima Street, Zamboanga City,

Zamboanga del Sur (maximum 365 slots)

Region 10 (Northern Mindanao)

21. Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan College of Law, 73 Corrales Avenue,

Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental (maximum 240 slots)

22. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Andres Bonifacio

Avenue, Tibanga, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte (maximum 250 slots)

Region 11 (Davao Region)

23. Ateneo de Davao University, Senior High School Campus, Bangkal, Davao
City (maximum 800 slots)

Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN)

24. Mindanao State University, Fatima, General Santos City (maximum 204
slots)

Separate memoranda of agreement were executed between the Supreme Court

and the local testing centers. All parties have guaranteed that the required health and
safety protocols shall be strictly implemented and that the community quarantine
classifications per area shall be respected.

Four other local testing centers—three in Metro Manila and one in Central
Luzon—are still being considered. Whether they have been approved as local
testing centers will be announced in a later bar bulletin.
 Each bar applicant will select their local testing center through the Bar PLUS
(Personal Login Unified System). To make the Bar Examinations more inclusive to
all examinees, venue-matching will not be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Instead, applicants from remote areas will be prioritized. Locations within the
Philippines will be ranked from the least to the most remote, and the Bar PLUS will
first process the choices of the applicants from the most remote locations.

Applicants may select their chosen local testing centers only after their
applications have been approved by the Supreme Court En Banc. The Office of the
Bar Confidant will send separate emails to the approved applicants for this purpose.

The Office of the Bar Chairperson extends its warm gratitude to the
institutions who have graciously offered their facilities and personnel to be part of
this historic endeavor. We acknowledge their generosity and count on their
continuous support in ensuring the health and safety of our bar examinees.

The Bar Chairperson also advises the applicants to choose the testing center
closest to their residence. This will not only reduce their expenses, but will also free
up the slots in vicinities closest to those with the least resources. In this pandemic,
while we allow the applicants to make their own choices, we hope that they will do
so with responsibility and compassion.

Think not only of your needs, but of others. The legal profession is a
profession that serves others.

Continue to study with passion and compassion. Persevere, for our people
need all of you.

For your information and guidance.

For meaningful freedoms,

MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN

Associate Justice and
2020/21 Bar Examinations
Chairperson