SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2996 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'15 
OCT 29 P 4 :23 
.. " .,,' .,." '" -~ 
TO PROVIDE FOR SAFE ACCESS IN FIRE EMERGENCIES 
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 Bureau 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 
~\w ~~);A.J 
~IRIAM DEF~SOR SANTlt..GO 
1 This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session, and refiled in 
the Fifteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
) 
,\ ) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2996 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'15 
OCT 29 P 4 :23 
TO PROVIDE FOR SAFE ACCESS IN FIRE EMERGENCIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safe Access in Fire 
2 
Emergencies Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
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to ensure the safety of its people against fire emergencies, through establishing measures 
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which will prevent injuries, most especially death. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, "window bars" mean 
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any metal or other bars, grills, grates, heavy-duty screens, glazing, or other barriers that 
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are designed -
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(A) to cover exterior and interior escape windows in residential dwelling units; 
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and 
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(B) to deter any physical security threats to the home, including threats from 
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burglars. 
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Such term does not include any such barriers that (a) protect children from falling 
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from open windows in upper floors of buildings, and (b) protect nonresidential or 
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commercial properties 
1 


SECTION 4. Safety Standardfor Window Bars. -
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(a) Rulemaking Required. - The Department Df Trade and Industry (DTI) in 
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cooperation and coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall initiate a 
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rulemaking proceeding within 90 days after the date of effectivity of this Act to establish 
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a consumer prDduct safety standard for windDw bars, except that the DTI and the BFP 
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may extend such 90-day period fDr good cause. 
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the DTI and BFP shall promulgate a 
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final rule establishing such consumer product safety standard within 12 months after the 
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date Dn which the rulemaking is initiated, except that both may extend such 12-mDnth 
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periDd for good cause. Such consumer product safety standard shall take effect upDn the 
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expiration Df the 6-month period beginning on the date on which the final rule 
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establishing such standard is promulgated. 
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(b) Releasing System Requirement. -
The standard established pursuant tD 
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paragraph (a) shall: 
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(1) require all window bars that are manufactured or installed in the 
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Philippines to incorporate releasing systems that meet the minimum standards 
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under paragraph (c); and 
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(2) address releasing systems for interior- and exterior-based window bars. 
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(c) Minimum Standards for Releasing Systems. - The minimum standards for 
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releasing systems for window bars shall require that such systems: 
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(1) when actuated, can move such bars and provide egress to occupants of 
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residential dwelling units equipped with such bars; and 
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(2) at a minimum, can be actuated manually from the interiDr Df a 
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residential dwelling unit and provide escape through the protected opening. 
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(d) Consultation. - In developing the standard pursuant to paragraph (a), the DTI 
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and BFP shall consult with experts, including manufacturers of window bars, housing and 
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building codes authorities, and representatives of the appropriate government agencies, 
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officials in different regions that have in effect window bar safety standards, and other 
3 
similar public safety-related organizations. 
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SECTION 5. Labeling Requirement. - The DTI shall require each manufacturer 
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selling, or offering for sale, in the Philippines, any window bars to include in the 
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packaging for the window bars a written statement clearly explaining how the window 
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bars are to be configured and installed and the inclusion and operation of the releasing 
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system incorporated pursuant to Section 4(b). 
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SECTION 6. Provision of Data. - The DTI and the BFP shall establish and 
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maintain a National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) code and system for 
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collection of information and statistics on casualties associated with window bars. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
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provisions hereof. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
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portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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