How Facebook Live Turned a Small Town’s Police into a Big Voice for Community
In Pola, Oriental Mindoro—a quiet, rural town often cut off by weak signal and slow updates—the police found a way to break through the noise. Instead of waiting for citizens to walk into the station or read static advisories, they decided to meet the people where they already were: online.
Thus was born Pulis ng Polenyo: Ulat sa Bayan (USB), the first-ever police Facebook Live broadcast in the province, launched by PMAJ FLORANTE M SUGIAN II and the men and women of Pola MPS.
From Reports to Real Talk
Before PNP-USB, communication between the police and the public was distant and delayed. Weekly reports gathered dust, advisories rarely reached everyone, and trust was thinner than the signal bars on a cellphone screen.
USB changed that. By going live on Facebook, the police opened a window into their work. Advisories, safety tips, and accomplishments were no longer one-way announcements, they became real-time conversations. Viewers could ask questions, share concerns, even send in anonymous tips during the broadcast.
Officers took turns hosting, learning to face the camera with confidence while the community learned to see them not just as uniforms, but as neighbors.
Big Results in a Small Town
The shift was immediate and measurable. Civilian tip reports spiked, giving the police more leads to act on. Within a year of USB’s launch, index crimes dropped from 14 to 10, while police-initiated operations rose from 27 to 35.
It wasn’t just numbers. A survey showed public satisfaction with police communication jumped from 71% to 89%, and every episode of USB reached up to 20,000 people—far beyond the town’s population. For a community once on the margins, that kind of visibility mattered.
More Than Just Police Work
Soon, USB became more than a police program. Agencies like the LTO, BFP, PCG, COMELEC, and even the Municipal Agriculture Office joined in, using the platform to talk directly to citizens. Need to know about voter registration? Driver’s licensing? Disaster preparedness? You’d likely hear it first on USB.
The broadcast evolved into a whole-of-government service hub online, one digital stage where people, police, and public servants came together.
A Model of Innovation
USB has earned Pola MPS regional and national recognition, from Outstanding PCAD Unit 2025 to Best Junior PCO for Administration, conferred by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and SILG Jesus Crispin Remulla.
But beyond the plaques and medals, the true measure of USB is the stronger trust between the police and the people they serve.
Why It Matters
In a world where misinformation spreads faster than facts, USB proves that the police can take charge of the digital space, not with spin, but with sincerity, transparency, and open dialogue.
It’s policing reimagined: proactive, approachable, and people-centered.
📺 Catch Pulis ng Polenyo: Ulat sa Bayan live every Wednesday, 10:00 AM on Facebook.
Be part of the conversation. Ask, share, connect—because in Pola, peace and order isn’t just a police job, it’s a community effort.