MANILA (UPDATE) - The Supreme Court en banc said Wednesday it decided to postpone the 2020 Bar Examinations due to the "social and economic disruption" of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a bulletin, 2020 Bar exam chairperson Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said the new schedule of the test will be announced in June, adding it would "definitely be held" next year.

“This is to give the court ample time to determine the necessary adjustments and to make adequate preparations for the safe and orderly conduct of the examinations," he said.

The exams will also be held in Manila and Cebu for the first time after the high court approved Leonen's proposal to regionalize the tests.

The Bar Exams were usually held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila during all four Sundays of November.

#Bar2020 UPDATE: Read Bar Bulletin No. 11 - NEW SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT BAR EXAMINATIONS https://t.co/MfnAUt6t3G #BestBarEver2020 pic.twitter.com/B3KKm7eBjG

— Supreme Court Public Information Office (PIO) (@SCPh_PIO) April 29, 2020

The Supreme Court on Wednesday announced 2,103 of 7,685 candidates passed the 2019 Bar exams.

Mae Diane Azores of UST-Legazpi topped the exams.

• UST-Legazpi grad tops 2019 Bar Exams
• Women clinch top 5 spots in 2019 Bar exams

--With reports from Mike Navallo, ABS_CBN News