Republic of the Philippines

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

Office of the Chief Justice

Offices of the Associate Justices

Philippine Judicial Academy

Judicial and Bar Council

Office of the Court Administrator

Office of the Clerk of Court

Offices of the Division Clerks of Court

Office of Administrative Services

Office of the Chief Attorney

Office of the Reporter

Judicial Records Office

Office of the Bar Confidant

Management Information Systems Office

Fiscal Management & Budget Office

Medical and Dental Services

Library Services

Printing Services

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

Completion of the degrees of Bachelor of Laws and Doctor of Medicine from a CHED-recognized
institution shall be considered appropriate education for appointment to division chief positions or
positions requiring a masters degree the duties of which do not involve the practice of profession
covered by bar/board laws. (Part II, Item 9 of CSC Resolution No. 030962, Revised Policies on
Qualification Standards, circularized in MC No. 12, s. 2003