Biliran Province State University and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Regional Office VIII have formalized their collaboration to enhance criminological research and public safety initiatives through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on March 11 at the BiPSU OP Convergence.

The agreement was signed by BiPSU President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. and NAPOLCOM VIII Acting Regional Director Atty. Risty N. Sibay.

One of the highlights of the partnership is advancing data-driven crime prevention efforts and academic research in criminology. Under this collaboration, BiPSU will deploy enumerators from its School of Criminal Justice (SCJE) to assist in the 2025 Survey on Personal Safety, Fear of Crime, and Violence in Biliran Province.

This survey aims to assess public perceptions of safety, attitudes toward crime prevention, and the effectiveness of law enforcement services in Biliran Province. The findings will help develop and implement targeted interventions and policies to improve public safety.

During a short courtesy visit to the Office of the President, NAPOLCOM VIII Acting Regional Director Atty. Sibay also pledged to facilitate criminology internships for BiPSU students, providing them with practical exposure to law enforcement processes.

Additionally, BiPSU will share its research findings related to public safety and law enforcement with NAPOLCOM to contribute to evidence-based policymaking.

The NAPOLCOM VIII Acting Regional Director emphasized the importance of research-based approaches in enhancing public trust and effective governance in crime prevention. He also highlighted the need for research-driven policies.

“We need research studies that will serve as the basis for our policy formulation,” he said. “If BiPSU has research papers that we can use, we would be very grateful.”

Dr. Cañezo expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration and emphasized its impact in community safety and policymaking.

"This partnership strengthens our commitment to equipping our criminology students with real-world experience while contributing to evidence-based policies that promote community safety," he said.

The ceremonial signing was also witnessed by key officials from NAPOLCOM VIII, including Atty. Rutchel G. Hechanova-Espinosa, assistant regional director; Atty. Gladys A. Centino, provincial officer of Biliran; Atty. Hermie F. Alcera II, CPA, chief of the Technical Services Division; and Marialuz C. Abarca, chief of the Planning and Research Section.

University officials in attendance included Board of Regents (BOR) member and SCJE Acting Dean Hon. Vennie G. Coton; Department of Criminology Chair Roselle G. Sabornido; and University Legal Assistant Atty. Sheena Estrella Bentor. 

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.]