Supreme Court

Manila
MEMORANDUM FOR: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary All Concerned Office

For your information, attached is a photocopy of the letter dated February 19,
2001 of Ms. Ester A. Garcia, Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) informing the Honorable Chief Justice that the CHED has accredited the
degree of Bachelor of Laws with corresponding Bar eligibility as equivalent to a
relevant Master's Degree per its en banc Resolution No. 038-2001, a copy of
which is likewise attached. Parenthetically, the said Resolution includes the
degree of Doctor of Medicine with corresponding board eligibility as equivalent to
a relevant Master's degree.

March 15, 2001

EDEN T. CANDELARIA
Deputy Clerk of Court and
Chief Administrative Officer

Copy furnished: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

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Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

February 19, 2001

HONORABLE HILARIO DAVIDE, JR.
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Padre Faura Street corner Taft Avenue
Ermita, Manila
Dear Chief Justice Davide: chanrobles virtual law library

I am pleased to inform your good office of the en banc decision of the

Commission on Higher Education on the accreditation of Bachelor of Laws (LI.B.)
with bar eligibility as equivalent to a relevant Master's Degree per attached
Resolution No. 038, Series of 2001. The rationale behind this is that Bachelor of
Laws is a higher degree requiring completion of a first bachelor's degree before
proceeding to the professional degree program. cralaw
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) as per Memorandum Circular No. 1-A, Series
of 1997, likewise recognizes degree holders of Bachelor of Laws with bar
eligibility for permanent appointment to Division Chief positions provided that
applicants meet other requirements of the post. This is further supported by an
earlier ruling of the CSC which considers an applicant who is at least a holder of
a Master's Degree qualified for the post of Division Chief.
cralaw

In view of the above CHED policy and rationale, any other master's degree
earned by the individual relative to the discipline of law is considered equivalent
to a second or third Master's degree as the case may be. cralaw

Thank you and best regards.

Very truly yours,
ESTER A. GARCIA
Chairperson