Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, CCPO Deputy Director for Operations, said that they will be deploying a total of 153 personnel to secure the upcoming bar examinations in two universities in Cebu City. | Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deploying a total of 153 personnel to secure the two universities that will serve as local testing centers for the 2023 Bar examinations in Cebu City.
The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and the University of San Carlos (USC) are among the 14 schools chosen as local testing centers (LTCs) for the 2023 Bar exams.
This year’s bar exams is scheduled on September 17, 20, and 24, 2023.
In relation to this, a top official of the Cebu City Police Office assured that they will be implementing the necessary security measures for this big event.
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Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, Deputy Director for Operations of CCPO, told reporters on Thursday, September 14, 2023, that they will be deploying police personnel to secure the immediate vicinity of these universities.
She said that a total of 102 police personnel will be deployed at the USJ-R Basak Campus in Basak, Pardo.
Meanwhile, at the USC along Pelaez Street, Cebu City, 51 police personnel with be deployed during the three dates.
Rafter said that just like what they do when they are big events in the city based on the template of the local government, an advanced command post will be implemented in both areas.
She added that they have also coordinated with other government agencies such as the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRMO), and barangay tanods to secure the event.
The CCTO will be in charge of handling the traffic in these areas while the CCDRMO will be handling emergency reponses together with the PNP.
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“Naa ta’y mga traffic car. Naa tay mobile patrol nga ibutang nato. Naa pud tay mga TEU nga sa Traffic Enforcement Unit nato. And then the rest of the others, PNP personnel, will be on the vicinity [for] perimeter and security,” stated Rafter.
The police personnel will be deployed as early as 2:00 a.m., according to Rafter.
She added that this is because just like what happened in the past exams, they anticipate that examinees will start to arrive in the venues at around 4:00 a.m.
Rafter also stated that there will be road closures around the vicinity of these schools especially in USC downtown campus, which is a major concern because it is normally a busy street.
Through their official Facebook page, the CCTO disclosed on Tuesday, September 12, the traffic plan for the bar examinations
Road closure will be implemented along Pelaez Street from corner Sanciangko Street up to P. Del Rosario Street.
The road along Sanciangko Street from corner Junquera Street up to Pelaez Street will be also be closed.
Meanwhile, at the University of San Jose- Recoletos Basak campus, no roads will be closed but only one lane will be used as drop off area by examiners and examinees.
Traffic concern
Rafter said that their biggest concern for this year’s bar exams is the possible traffic congestion, which has been the problem in past exams.
Meanwhile, the family members and supporters of the examinees will only be allowed at the designated drop-off areas.
Rafter plead to the motorists and even the commuters to be understanding of the traffic inconveniences that will be experienced during the examination days.
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“We are appealing your understanding sa niini nga mga road closures nato or mga inconveniences nga mahimo diha kaninyo,” she said.
Rafter also advised the public to monitor which roads will be closed and to leave their houses early if they have appointments.
“Ihangyo lang namo ang atong mga katawhan, labi na katong mga magbibyaheay nianang mga adlawa mga panahuna nga monitor the CCTO announcement on the road closure. And then mas maayo siguro nga to avoid na lang that area tungod sa mga ipahigayon nga third regional bar examination diri sa Cebu City,” she said.
According to Rafter, a total of 1,100 examines will be taking the test at the USJ-R Basak campus while 540 examinees will be taking it at the USC Main campus.
/bmjo