Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles lauded on Tuesday the Supreme Court’s move to go digital for this year’s Bar examinations and urged other government instrumentalities to take their cue from the High Court, which has leveraged technology in order to continue to perform its mandate.
“Once again, the SC is leading the way in taking advantage of available technology in order to strike the balance between public safety and duty,” said Nograles, a Harvard-trained lawyer.
“From allowing virtual trials to expediting the release of persons deprived of liberty to decongest our jails, the High Court has been quick to adapt to the situation.”
An SC bulletin issued on Monday said the Court en banc approved a “digitalized, localized, and proctored modality” for the bar examinations.
According to the bulletin, the High Court reached its decision after a pilot bar exam conducted on Jan. 31 to assess proposed reforms proved successful. The mock exams took place in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao.
Eighty law students participated in the trial using computer software while being proctored in the testing rooms.
The neophyte solon said he is not surprised by the decision, since the SC has been at the forefront of using technology in order to continue dispensing justice since the pandemic started.
“From allowing virtual trials to expediting the release of persons deprived of liberty to decongest our jails, the High Court has been quick to adapt to the situation. Such flexibility should be emulated across all of government,” Nograles said.
The neophyte solon also took the Civil Service Commission to task for its failure to hold online its eligibility exams, which have been deferred since the enhanced community quarantine was imposed in March last year.
“Once again, the SC is leading the way in taking advantage of available technology in order to strike the balance between public safety and duty.”
Nograles lamented that there has been no word from the commission as to when it plans to conduct the exams even as government positions remain unfilled.
Based on the Department of Budget and Management’s staffing summary, there are 177,874 vacant positions in government (including both civilian and military/uniformed personnel).
“Nasa recovery mode na po tayo, pero naaantala ang pagbigay natin ng trabaho sa mga nawalan dahil hanggang ngayon walang kasiguruhan kung kailan ang eligibility exam,” said the lawmaker.
He appealed to the commission to have a sense of urgency.
“Kung nahihirapan po sila, sabihin nila, at huwag silang mahiyang humingi ng tulong,” he said.