FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENAT~ 
S. No: 
~3 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is a fact that window bars are most prevalent in low-income areas and high crime areas, 
where other security risks often overshadow fire safety standards. 
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, children, the elderly, persons who are 
mobility-impaired, and firefighters are especially vulnerable to fatalities or injuries involving 
residential window bars. Many people have died in residential fires as a result of being trapped 
by window bars. There should be a campaign to raise public awareness on the risks and 
casualties of window bar entrapment during residential fires. 
The Bu'reau of Fire Protection encourages fire prevention through fire sprinklers, smoke 
detectors, and planned escape routes as main goals of avoiding casualties in residential and 
commercial fires. 
This bill seeks to give the local governments, the Department of Trade and Industry and 
the Bureau of Fire Protection jurisdiction with respect to releasing systems on residential 
window bars and to establish a consumer product safety standard ensuring that all such bars 
include a quick-release mechanism. l 
I This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regnlar Session 
I 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENAT93 
S.No. ___ _ 
\' \ i 
-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO PROVIDE FOR SAFE ACCESS IN FIRE EMERGENCIES 
3 
4 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
5 
Congress assembled: 
6 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safe Access in Fire 
7 
Emergencies Act." 
8 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
9 
ensure the safety of its people against fire emergencies, through establishing measures which will 
10 
prevent injuries, most especially death. 
II 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. 
12 
"Window Bars" means any metal or other bars, grills, grates, heavy-duty screens, 
13 
glazing, or other barriers that are designed--
14 
(I) to cover exterior and interior escape windows in residential dwelling units; and 
15 
(2) to deter any physical security threats to the home, including threats from burglars. 
16 
Such term does not include any such barriers that (a) protect children from falling from 
17 
open windows in upper floors of buildings, and (b) protect nonresidential or commercial 
18 
properties .. 
19 
SECTION 4. Safety Standard for Window Bars. -
1 


1 
(a) Rulemaking Required- The Department of, Trade and Industry (DTI) in cooperation 
2 
and coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding 
3 
within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act to establish a consumer product safety 
4 
standard for window bars, except that the DTI and the BFP may extend such 90-day period for 
5 
good cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the DTI and BFP shall promulgate a 
6 
final rule establishing such consumer product safety standard within 12 months after the date on 
7 
which the rulemaking pursuant to this subsection is initiated, except that both may extend such 
8 
12-month period for good cause. Such consumer product safety standard shall take effect upon 
9 
the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date on which the final rule establishing 
10 
such standard is promulgated. 
11 
(b) Releasing System Requirement - The standard established pursuant to subsection (a) 
12 
shall--
13 
,(1) require all window bars that are manufactured or installed in the Republic of 
14 
the Philippines to incorporate releasing systems that meet the minimum standards under 
15 
subsection (c); and 
16 
(2) address releasing systems for interior- and exterior-based window bars. 
17 
(c) Minimum Standards for Releasing Systems - The minimum standards under this 
18 
subsection for releasing systems for window bars shall require that such systems--
19 
(1) when actuated, can move such bars and provide egress to occupants of 
20 
residential dwelling units equipped with such bars; and 
21 
(2) at a minimum, can be actuated manually from the interior of a residential 
22 
dwelling unit and provide escape through the protected opening. 
23 
(d) Consultation- In developing the standard pursuant to subsection ( a), the DTI and BFP 
24 
shall consult with experts, including manufacturers of window bars, housing and building codes 
25 
authorities, and representatives of the appropriate govermnent agencies, officials in different 
2 


I 
regions that have in effect window bar safety standards, and other similar public safety -related 
2 
organizations. 
3 
SECTION 5. Labeling Requirement. - The Department of Trade and Industry shall 
4 
require each manufacturer selling, or offering for sale, in the Philippines, any window bars to 
5 
include in the packaging for the window bars a written statement clearly explaining how the 
6 
window bars are to be configured and installed and the inclusion and operation of the releasing 
7 
system incorporated pursuant to section 4(b). 
8 
SECTION 6. Provision of Data. - The Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau 
9 
of Fire Protection shall establish and maintain a National Electronic Injury Surveillance System 
10 
(NEISS) code and system for collection of information and statistics on casualties associated 
11 
with window bars. 
12 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
13 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
14 
valid and SUbsisting. 
IS 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
16 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
17 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
18 
SECTION 9. EffectiVity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
19 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
20 
Approved, . 
lapm062210 
3