In a concerted effort to strengthen academic and PNP collaboration, the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 1 (CHED RO1), the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1), Professional Criminologists of the Philippines, and Council of Criminal Justice Educators – Region 1, convened for a meeting aimed at advancing joint initiatives in peace, security, and criminal justice education at the Regional Comptrollership Division Office of PRO 1 on March 7, 2025.
The meeting brought together officials from the four institutions to discuss project collaborations that would enhance academic programs, provide hands-on training for future criminologists, and support for public safety and security efforts in Region 1.
Dr. Myrelle Faith D. Mina, Education Supervisor II and Focal for Peace and Order, Anti-Drug Strategy and Peace Education of CHED RO1 underscored the significance of building synergy between the academe, professional organizations, and law enforcement agencies.
“This partnership is instrumental in equipping our students with practical knowledge while contributing to community safety and security. Through this collaboration, we can bridge academic expertise with real-world applications,” she stated.
PLTCOL Ma. Leonora Teresa A. Dela Cruz, Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Comptrollership Division and Project Lead for Police Community Academy of PRO1 emphasized their commitment to mentoring future criminologists and integrating academic perspectives into policing practices.
The Police officials of the Regional Community Affairs Division also expressed their support to the initiatives aimed at strengthening crime prevention strategies through education, underlining that well-trained criminology graduates can significantly contribute to public safety.
“By working closely with academic institutions, we can ensure that future law enforcement professionals are not only skilled but also grounded in ethical and community-centered policing,” PLtCol De La Cruz said.
The Professional Criminologists of the Philippines, represented by Dr. Ambosio Detran, Region 1 Governor, highlighted the role in building continuous professional development and ensuring that criminology graduates align with national standards in public safety and security.
Dr. Aurora Laroya, President of the Council of Criminal Justice Educators – Region 1 (CCJE R1) and Dean of the College of Criminology of Don Mariano Marcos State University, Mid La Union Campus, also shared her optimism regarding the said collaboration.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this partnership, as it provides our students with invaluable opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios while reinforcing ethical and community-centered policing,” Dr. Laroya shared.
The strategic collaboration is expected to pave the way for more structured programs that will benefit students, future criminologists and PNP.
A series of activities, including the conduct of Police Community Academy 2.0, seminars, and capacity-building initiatives, are set to be implemented as part of the long-term partnership.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to sustaining this alliance, reinforcing the role of education in strengthening peace and order in Region 1.
𝘣𝘺 𝘔.𝘍. 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘢
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