CAMP OSCAR M. FLORENDO—Eighty-three police officers from Region I finally got their cherished baccalaureate degrees while in the service under the ‘Balik Eskwela’ program.

All graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Criminology course in ceremonies held last Wednesday morning at the Police Regional Office grounds in Camp Oscar Florendo, San Fernando City.

The ‘Balik Eskwela’ program for undergraduate personnel was covered by a memorandum of agreement between PRO1 and the University of La Sallete based in Santiago City, Isabela.

The university implemented the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditations Program (ETEEAP) offered on a tri-mester basis.

Chief Supt. Romeo Hilomen, Police Region 1 Director, commended Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil who started the program on June 18, 2007 when he was Police regional director here.

Hilomen and Bataoil were classmates in the Philippine Military Academy.

Hilomen vowed to continue the program, adding that PRO1 encourages its undergraduate personnel to pursue their baccalaureate course.

The command provides counterpart fund for tuition fees, fare, meals and snacks of policemen taking advantage of the ‘Balik Eskwela’ program.