By Karren Jay G. Asgar

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas signed Executive Orders No. 57, 58, and 59 to ensure a peaceful and well-coordinated 2025 Bar Examinations at Central Philippine University, scheduled for September 7, 10, and 14, 2025.

In preparation for the 2025 Bar Examinations at Central Philippine University (CPU), Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas signed Executive Orders No. 57, 58, and 59, which collectively aim to ensure a smooth and peaceful conduct of the Bar 2025 #AMYingForExcellence. This year’s localized and digitalized exams are scheduled for September 7, 10, and 14, 2025.

EO No. 57 prohibits the sale and consumption of liquor or alcoholic beverages within a 500-meter radius of CPU from midnight of September 6, 9, and 13 until 11:59 PM of September 7, 10, and 14, 2025.

EO No. 58 enjoins establishments within the same radius to minimize unnecessary noise and advises contractors performing engineering or preventive maintenance works to postpone activities during the same period, while also prohibiting the use of videoke machines, wireless microphones, and other similar equipment that could disrupt the exams.

Under Section 2 of EO No. 058, the regulation of ambient noise is outlined: “Business establishments conducting commercial and industrial activities within the five-hundred-meter (500 meter) radius of Central Philippine University are strongly enjoined to minimize unnecessary noise…”  Additionally, contractors performing engineering or preventive maintenance works are strongly encouraged to postpone such activities within the same 500-meter radius.

Meanwhile, EO No. 59 created a coordinating committee chaired by Mayor Treñas and co-chaired by City Administrator Melchor Tan, with various city and national government offices as members, to oversee security, traffic, health and disaster risk management, and public information and social media coordination.

Central Philippine University will once again serve as a local testing center for the 2025 Bar Examinations, marking the third time the university has been designated a host site, as announced on June 20, 2025, through Bar Bulletin No. 3 by Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Exams. The Supreme Court reported that 12,114 examinees nationwide will take the bar exams this year across 14 testing sites, with CPU among three designated centers in the Visayas, alongside the University of San Jose – Recoletos in Cebu City and Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City.

Central Philippine University expressed its appreciation for the support from the city government and community, highlighting that these measures will ensure a smooth, well-organized, and successful conduct of the 2025 Bar Examinations.