LIST: Traffic advisories, guidelines for 2026 Bar Examinations on Sept. 6, 9, and 13 • PhilSTAR Life

Several roads around testing centers across the Philippines will be closed or rerouted for the 2026 Bar Exams happening on Sept. 6, 9, and 13, 2026.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has announced traffic management measures and temporary road closures on specific roads near the exam venues for several hours on the three exam dates.

Here are the areas that will be affected by the traffic measures:

Ateneo de Manila University School of Law

No road closures will be implemented at ADMU School of Law during the examination dates. However, one lane will be designated exclusively for pick-up and drop-off activities.

Manila Adventist College

Road closures will be implemented around Manila Adventist College in Pasay City, which will serve as one of the venues for the 2026 Bar Examinations.

On Sept. 6, 9 and 13, portions of San Juan Street between Leveriza and Donada streets and Donada Street between Buendia Avenue and San Juan Street will be closed to traffic from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m.

University of Santo Tomas

The University of Santo Tomas will serve as one of the testing centers for the 2026 Bar Examinations.

On Sept. 6, 9, and 13, road closures will be in effect from 2 a.m. to 7 p.m. along:

Dapitan Street
España Boulevard: Traffic management will be implemented on the two westbound lanes from Gate 2 to P. Noval Street on Sept. 6 and 9, from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Sept. 13, traffic management will be in place from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m.
España Boulevard: All westbound lanes from Lacson Avenue to P. Noval Street will be fully closed on Sept. 13, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

San Beda University

Those traversing the roads near San Beda University in Manila should take note of the following closures:

Mendiola Street: Both lanes will be closed from the Peace Arch to Concepcion Aguila Street.
Concepcion Aguila Street: Both lanes will be closed from Mendiola Street to Jose P. Laurel Street.
Legarda Street: The eastbound lane will be partially closed from San Rafael Street to Mendiola Street.

The closures will be implemented on September 6, 9, and 13, from 2 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, no road closures are expected around San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City during the Bar examination dates.

University of the Philippines - BGC

There will be no road closures or rerouting during the exam days. However, heavy traffic is expected from 4 to 7 a.m., and 4 to 7 p.m. Motorists and commuters are advised to leave early and allow extra travel time.

New Era University

While there will be no road closures, motorists who will travel near New Era University should observe the following traffic measures along Central Avenue:

Parking will not be allowed from 2 a.m. to 7 p.m.
U-turns will be prohibited from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
From 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., examinee vehicles will use the outer lanes, while regular vehicular traffic will use the inner lanes of Central Avenue.

Saint Louis University

There will be a partial road closure on Lower Bonifacio Street near Saint Louis University on Sept. 13 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cagayan State University

Traffic around Cagayan State University’s Carig Campus will be managed through road re-routing and one-way traffic flow during the Bar examinations.

The following routes will be affected:

Dalan na Pappabalo: Registry of Deeds to Department of Labor and Employment
Dalan na Nangigacaua: National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency to DOLE
Dalan na Pavvurulunan: Metropolitan Tuguegarao Water District to Office of Civil Defense
Dalan na Malapo: Government Service Insurance System to Registry of Deeds

University of Nueva Caceres

For those heading directly to the vicinity of the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City for the 2026 Bar, road closures will be implemented around the university area on Sept. 6, 9, and 13, 2026, from 12 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

J. Hernandez Avenue: Closed from Arana Street intersection to the front of Grand Master Mall
P. Burgos Street: Closed from J. Hernandez Avenue to Elias Angeles Street

Central Philippine University

Several portions of Lopez Jaena Street in Jaro, Iloilo City will be temporarily closed to traffic due to the Bar Exams at Central Philippine University.

The road section from the entrance/exit of Miramar Subdivision to Cabangbang Street will be closed on Sept. 6 and 9, 2026, from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Sept. 13, 2026, the same section will be closed from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, the portion from Iloilo Coliseum to Cabangbang Street will be closed on Sept. 13, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

University of San Jose–Recoletos

Road closures will affect N. Bacalso Avenue near the Basak Campus in Cebu City on Sept. 13, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The outermost southbound lane will be closed during this period.

Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation

There will be no road closure along Calanipawan Road in Tacloban City during the examination dates. However, U-turns will be prohibited along the road.

Ateneo de Davao University

There will be no road closure along MacArthur Highway during the examination dates. However, U-turns will be prohibited along the portion of the highway in front of ADDU.

Mindanao State University – IIT

A partial road closure will be implemented along Andres Bonifacio Avenue near MSU-IIT in Tibanga, Iligan City.

The two outer lanes beside MSU-IIT will be temporarily closed on Sept. 6 and 9, from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. On Sept. 13, the closure will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Number coding scheme

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has exempted 2026 Bar examinees from the number coding scheme on Sept. 9 when traveling to and from their local testing centers in Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Pasay, Taguig, and Muntinlupa.

Examinees were ordered to “place a visible copy of their Notice of Admission on the windshield of their vehicle.” Registration is voluntary and is open until Sept. 3. Only one vehicle is allowed per examinee.

Liquor ban

The Manila City government has announced that it will be imposing several measures within a 500-meter radius of UST and San Beda University during the 2026 Bar Exams on three dates. These include a liquor ban, limits on street vendors, and noise controls to keep the exam areas safe, quiet, and orderly.

The Muntinlupa City government likewise announced a liquor ban within a 100-meter radius of San Beda College Alabang from midnight before each exam date until 10 p.m. on the day.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas also announced a liquor ban within a 500-meter radius of Central Philippine University on Sept. 5 to 6, 8 to 9, and 12 to 13.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has imposed a liquor and noise ban within a 500-meter radius of the Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation during the exams. The ban will run from midnight on Sept. 5, 8, and 12 until 10 p.m. on September 6, 9, and 13. Parties, parades, karaoke, and similar activities are also prohibited in the area.

A total of 13,441 applicants will take this year's Bar Exam. The examinations will cover six core subjects, with two subjects taken each day: Political and Public International Law, Commercial and Taxation Laws, Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds, Labor Law and Social Legislation, Criminal Law, and Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics, with Practical Exercises.

The Philippine National Police has ordered its units nationwide to implement security and traffic measures and deploy personnel for the three-day exam.