Biliran Province State University has revealed positive results from its recent feasibility study, with 74% of respondents expressing interest in pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree at the university. 

The study, which surveyed 246 people, was presented by Atty. Dick Guiller Delfin, the university's legal officer, during a coordination meeting with the University President Dr. Victor Catigbe Cañezo, Jr. and the technical working group for the proposed law program. 

The meeting, held on April 3 at the OP Convergence, was attended by various university  officials and selected faculty members. 

The survey data showed strong interest from aspiring law students, with 14.2% still undecided and 10.6% indicating that they do not plan to enroll in law school. The study also revealed a portion of the respondents are currently enrolled in other law schools within Eastern Visayas.

To help the university understand its potential students, the study also gathered important demographic information. The results recorded that 37.4% of respondents are aged 20 years or younger, while 26% are between 21-25 years old. An additional 14.6% are aged 26-30, and the remaining respondents are distributed across older age brackets.

In terms of occupation, 37.8% of respondents are full-time college students, while 30.1% are working professionals in government. Moreover, the survey also found that 74.3% of government professionals hold permanent positions. 

Of the 246 respondents, 56.2% preferred weekend classes (Saturday and Sunday), while 29.5% favored weeknight sessions. 

"Given these preferences, we may look into offering executive classes to better fit the schedules of working professionals," Dr. Cañezo said. "Considering the limited classroom space and the time constraints of our students, weekend classes would allow them to focus more, rather than attending night classes after a full workday. This will also be more convenient for our professors.”

To ensure that the application for the JD program is comprehensive and meets necessary standards, BiPSU is set to organize a training workshop with officials from Arellano University School of Law (AUSL). The said workshop will cover key areas such as financial operations, tuition and fee structures, staffing, curriculum development, and faculty guidelines. 

“This training will be crucial for meeting the requirements needed to submit the program application by June of this year,” Atty. Delfin said.

However, the university president also suggested conducting virtual consultations with other law universities in the country such as the Bulacan State University and Tarlac State University to benchmark their practices to meet the requirements for BiPSU application. 

Dr. Cañezo also directed the director of the Engineering and Physical Development Office (EPDO) to begin preparations for the required facilities and infrastructures, including the proposed classrooms, faculty room, library, and moot court. 

As part of the feedback gathered from respondents, several suggestions were made to improve the potential Juris Doctor program at  the university.

One respondent recommended that professors selected for the law school should be “trustworthy, reliable, and committed to their roles—not just teaching for compliance.” 

They further added that professors should be skilled in teaching, “able to simplify complex lessons and make them engaging and easy to understand.”

Another respondent expressed his excitement. “It would be nice to have a law school in BiPSU for those who would want to enroll and pursue law. It could boost the university's recognition and produce outstanding lawyers ready to serve the people.” Additionally, some respondents suggested that BiPSU must hire legal practitioners or fully qualified lawyers to ensure the program's effectiveness and improve student learning outcomes.

During the discussion, the president stressed that the university is committed to selecting the best and most qualified students. He emphasized that as part of the admission process, all aspiring applicants will be required to pass a qualifying exam and meet the necessary qualifications to enroll in the program.

“Let me clear this out, bisan ka pa taga BiPSU, if dili ka mupasar sa qualifying exam, you will not be considered [Let me make this clear, even if you are from BiPSU, if you do not pass the qualifying exam, you will not be considered],” Dr. Cañezo stressed. 

The university president emphasized that only those who meet the standards will be eligible for the Juris Doctor program, regardless of their affiliation with the university.

Dr. Cañezo noted the importance of a competitive admission process to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are selected, which is important to the program’s long-term success.

Meanwhile, Atty. Delfin also highlighted that the majority of the respondents, 78.2%, are willing to work in the province after completing law school which could suggest that BiPSU's JD program could have a significant impact on regional legal education and professional opportunities.

With strong demand for legal education, BiPSU is committed to developing a transformative Juris Doctor program that will benefit aspiring lawyers both in Biliran and beyond.

In an interview, the university president also shared his personal motivation behind this plan,
“Just like my own dream of pursuing law, many Biliranons are eager to study law but have not been able to due to the lack of opportunities in the province and the high costs of studying outside. I hope this program will provide an accessible and affordable path for aspiring lawyers from Biliran and beyond,” he said. 

The consultation meeting concluded with the finalization of the committees assigned to various areas including financial operations, institutional administration and academic policies, permits, licenses and facilities, dean and faculty and curriculum delivery, law program management and library. The team is also scheduled to invite law practitioners from other universities the following week to gather insights and best practices from law schools across the Philippines.

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