The examinees in the University of San Jose-Recoletos Basak Campus were dropped off by their loved ones on the first day of Bar exams on September 17, Sunday. | Contributed photo: Courtesy of Jane Frances Latorza
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The police in Cebu City observed a slight concern on traffic during the first day of the 2023 Bar examinations in the city on September 17, Sunday.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), the police observed this traffic concern the moment the examinees are dropped off by their respective families.
But she assured the public that it did not have an effect on the flow of the examination.
Bar exams testing centers
The examinations start at 8 a.m. and the police are deployed at 2 a.m. in the two testing centers: the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) in Basak Campus and the University of San Carlos (USC).
There were 102 police personnel deployed at the USJ-R Basak Campus, while 51 are deployed at the USC on September 17, 20 and 24.
“Our city director (Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog) and I went around (in the venues) and as early as three o’clock, naa nay mga (there are) Bar examinees na ngadto (at that time), so that’s why we have deployed as early as two o’clock,” she said on Tuesday, September 19.
READ: Bar exams in Cebu: PNP readies personnel to secure testing centers
Dismissal
She said that they had also seen some concerns during the dismissal at 5 p.m. because all the examinees would leave the testing centers around the same time.
“Bulto na sila mogawas in the afternoon unlike in the morning nga mag usa-usa sila og abot but in the afternoon, at five o’clock, everybody comes out. That’s when we have a slight traffic issue,” she said.
(They go out at the same time in the afternoon, unlike in the morning where they arrived one at a time, but in the afternoon, at five o’ clock, everybody comes out. That’s when we have a slight traffic issue.)
She said that they observed this issue in the USJ-R Basak Campus, in the Basak Pardo because it was the main street going to the south and from the south going to the city.
Moreover, the police are also anticipating heavier traffic on the second day of the Bar examinations tomorrow, September 20.
Unlike on Sunday, where there were fewer vehicles because most of the schools did not have classes and they did not usually expect a heavy flow of traffic.
Rafter said that they would implement the traffic flow in accordance with the road closures set by the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).
READ: 10,816 aspiring lawyers gear up for 2023 Bar exam
Drop-off areas
The police officer also appeals to the relatives or the families of the examinees when they would drop them off in the testing centers.
“Nakasabot mi sa inyong mga gibati, sa excitement sa pagdala sa atoang mga pagsuporta sa inyong mga mahal sa kinabuhi sa inyohang mga hinigugma nianang Bar examination, but we also have to consider the general public who will be affected kung we will not be cooperating with the enforcement of the traffic flow,” she said.
(We understand your feelings, your excitement in bringing our support to your loved ones taking the Bar examination, but we also have to consider the general public, who will be affected if we will not be cooperating with the enforcement of the traffic flow.)
The second day of the Bar examinations falls on Wednesday where there are also other students going to school and this would also be a factor of the traffic congestion.
“Naa gyud tay gi-implement nga drop-off area but usahay siguro ma emotional pa ang pag send-off, that makes the traffic congest. Mao na karon nga among gi-implement nga once drop na siya, continue na gyud na siya,” she said.
(We are implementing the drop-off area, but sometimes, perhaps, the send-off will be emotional, that makes the traffic congest. That is why we implemented that once you drop off, we will continue that.)
READ: Road closures for 2023 Bar exams in Cebu City
Noise disturbances and videokes
She added that a matter of two to three minutes drop off would be crucial to the next vehicle that would come in.
Besides the traffic congestion, the police are also on guard for noise disturbances from the vehicle horns and videokes to keep the peace around the local testing centers while the examinations are ongoing.
Furthermore, Rafter said that the police would mostly be anticipating the last day of the Bar examinations.
They have observed for the past years that the people who give support to the examinees are more compared on the first day.
This year is the third time that Cebu City is hosting the regionalized Bar examinations.
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