The Supreme Court has approved a request from the Bar Confidant to increase Bar examination and admission fees from PhP2,250 to PhP2,750 effective this year.

The request was upon the recommendation of  Justice Dante O. Tinga, Chair of the 2008 Committee on Bar Examinations.

According to Atty. Layusa, the last time Bar examination and admission fees were increased was in 2003. The current PhP500 increase for the 2008 Bar exams covers all expenses incurred in administering the exams, including costs for bomb squad and police detail from the Western Police District for the whole perimeter of Taft Avenue.

Atty. Layusa attributes the increase to the significant rise in the rental costs of the venue, logistics costs, and personnel allowance.  Rental costs of the venue cover the use of De La Salle University in Taft Avenue (DLSU), the site of the annual Bar  examinations, and the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC), where the oath-taking ceremony takes place. DLSU and PICC increase their rental fees by 10 percent every year. (BM No. 859, Re: Request to Increase Bar Examination and Admission Fees, January 22, 2008)