f ios
> RECEIVED @
Se yyye, 21 MAY 2012

TP

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congres:
Second Regular Session

“ons
House BillNo___ 0203

Introduced by Representative Pablo John F. Garcia

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

Section 1, Article XI of Social Justice and Human Rights in the Philippine Constitution
mandates Congress “to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and
enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce social, economic and political
inequalities, and remove cultural inequities....”

Likewise, Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All are
equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation
of this Declaration and any indictment to such discrimination.”

Height should not be a restriction for people who want to serve the country as police, fire
and jail officers provided they possess other qualifications required in the effective performance
of their duties. Given the scope of responsibilities in law enforcement, fire protection and jai
management, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology need more competent members to better serve the growing demands
of the public. However, this noble intent is impeded by the height requirement that prevents
potential candidates from entering the service. If we are to analyze the existing gap between the
average height of Filipinos vis-a-vis the required height for police, fire and jail officers, we can
see that a good number of our fellowmen, most especially women, are being denied the
opportunity to serve the country. The proposal to remove this requirement will effectively
address this concern.

In view of the foregoing, swift passage of this measure is eanfestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

6203

House Bill No

Introduced by Representative Pablo John F. Garcia

AN ACT

REMOVING THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR POLICE, FIRE, AND JAIL
OFFICERS, FURTHER AMENDING SECTION 30 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975,
AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1990” AND SECTION 4 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION AND BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEM AND
PENOLOGY PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 2004”

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 “Police, Fire and Jail Height
Equality Act of 2012.

. 2. Section 30 (h) of Republic Act No. 6975, as amended, is hereby further amended
toread as follows:

SEC. 30. General Qualifications for Appointment. — No person shall be
appointed as officer or member of the PNP unless he or she possesses the following
qualifications:

XXX

[“h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m)_ in
height for male and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57m.) for female]

XXX.

SEC. 3. Section 4 (h) of Republic Act No. 9263 as amended, is hereby further amended
to read as follows:

Section 4. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification Standards
in the Appointment of Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the BJMP. — No


person shall be appointed as uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BIMP
unless he/she possesses the following minimum qualifications:

Uae

h) [Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) in
height for male, and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) for
female: Provided, That a] A waiver for (height and] age requirement{s] shall be
automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural communities: and

Creed

4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The National Police Commission, the
Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulation for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to
be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

6. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed
accordingly.

7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved.