NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that: 
“Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, 
and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the 
blessings of democracy.” 
As such, to be able to fulfill this declared policy of the State, the government is duty 
bound to make sure that all its Departments and Agencies are fully equipped and are capable 
of delivering services that its citizenry is entitled to.  
At present, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has a total of 484 Authorized Positions 
for Civilian Personnel and a total of 29,286 for Uniformed Personnel. The Bureau of Jail 
Management and Penology (BJMP) has a total of 85 Authorized Positions for Civilian 
Personnel and a total of 15,399 for Uniformed Personnel.  
However, the highest rank of uniformed personnel in both Bureaus pursuant to Republic Act 
No. 9263 is Fire/Jail Director which is equivalent to a two-star general rank in the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). For the Philippine 
Coast Guard (PCG), which has a total of 506 Authorized Positions for Civilian Personnel and 
a total of 12,930 for Uniformed Personnel, the highest rank is Admiral, which is equivalent to 
a four-star general rank  in the AFP and PNP.  
There is no denying that the men and women of the BFP and the BJMP are required the same 
levels of commitment and sacrifice as those in the AFP, PNP and PCG. There is therefore a 
need to upgrade the rank structure of the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP to a 
level commensurate with their critical roles in our country. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
February 8, 2023
4:23 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS   
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
UPGRADING THE RANK STRUCTURE OF THE UNIFORMED MEMBERS OF THE 
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263 AND   FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Rank Structure of the Uniformed Members 
of the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Upgrading 
Act”.   
SECTION 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise known as the 'Bureau of Fire 
Protection and Bureau of Jail Management  and  Penology Professionalization Act of 2004', 
as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows :  
SEC. 3. Organization and Key Positions of the BFP and the 
BJMP. – The BFP and the BJMP shall be respectively headed by a 
Chief who shall be assisted by two (2) deputy chiefs, one (1) for 
administration and one (1) for operations, all of whom shall be 
appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary 
of the DILG from among the qualified officers with at least the rank 
of CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT [senior superintendent] in the 
service: Provided, that in no case shall any officer who has retired 
or is retirable within six (6) months from his/her compulsory 
retirement age be appointed as Chief of the Fire Bureau or Chief of 
the Jail Bureau, as the case may be, Provided, further, that the 
Chief of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau shall serve a 
tour of duty not to exceed four (4) years: Provided, however, that in 
times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress, 
the President may extend such tour of duty. 
The Heads of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of DIRECTOR 
GENERAL [director] shall have the position title of Chief of the Fire 
Bureau and the Chief of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The second 
officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of 
DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL [chief superintendent] shall have 
the position title of Deputy Chief for Administration of the FIRE 
BUREAU AND DEPUTY CHIEF FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE 
Jail Bureau, respectively. The third officer in command of the BFP 
and the BJMP with the rank of DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL 
[chief superintendent] shall have the position title of Deputy Chief 
for Operation of Fire Bureau and Deputy Chief for Operation of the 
Jail Bureau, respectively. The fourth officers in command of the 
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BFP and the BJMP with the rank of DEPUTY DIRECTOR 
GENERAL [chief superintendent] shall have the respective position 
title of Chief of Directorial Staff of the Fire Bureau and Chief of 
Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau, who shall be assisted by the 
directors of the directorates in the respective national headquarters 
office with at least the rank of DIRECTOR [senior superintendent]. 
 
The BFP and the BJMP shall establish, operate and maintain their 
respective regional offices in each of the administrative regions of 
the country which shall be respectively headed by a Regional 
Director for Fire Protection and a Regional Director of Jail 
Management 
and 
Penology 
with 
the 
rank 
of 
CHIEF 
SUPERINTENDENT [senior superintendent], EXCEPT FOR THE 
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR) WHOSE REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR 
FOR 
FIRE 
PROTECTION 
AND 
REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR FOR JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY SHALL 
HAVE THE RANK OF DIRECTOR RESPECTIVELY.  He/She shall 
be respectively assisted by the following officers with the rank of 
SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT [superintendent]: Assistant Regional 
Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for 
Operations, and Regional Chief of Directorial Staff [.]: PROVIDED, 
THAT 
PROVIDED, 
THAT 
THE 
ASSISTANT 
REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION AND THE ASSISTANT 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR OPERATION FOR THE NATIONAL 
CAPITAL REGION (NCR) OF THE BFP AND BJMP SHALL HAVE 
THE RANK OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT. 
 
SECTION 3. Section 5, paragraph (d) of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows:  
 
SEC. 5. Appointment of Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the 
BJMP. – The appointment of the BFP and the BJMP shall be 
effected in the following manners: 
 
XXX 
 
XXX 
 
XXX 
 
d) Fire/ Jail Chief Superintendent. To Fire/Jail Director GENERAL. 
- Appointed by the President upon recommendation of the 
Secretary of the DILG, with the proper endorsement by the 
Chairman of the CSC. 
 
SECTION 4. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
read as follows:  
 
SEC. 7. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification 
Standards in the Designation of Uniformed Personnel of the BFP 
and the BJMP to Key Positions. - 
a) No person shall be designated to the following key positions of 
the BFP [and the BJMP] unless he/she has met the qualifications 
provided therein: 
1) Municipal Fire Marshal. – Should have the rank of 
SUPERINTENDENT [senior inspector], who must have 
finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at 
least twelve (12) units in a master's degree program in 
public administration, management, engineering, public 


safety, criminology or other related discipline from 
recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactory passed the necessary training of career courses 
for such position as may be established by the Fire Bureau; 
2) City Fire Marshal. - Should the rank of chief of SENIOR 
SUPERINTENDENT [senior inspector], who must have 
finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at 
least twenty four (24) units in a master's degree program in 
public administration, management, engineering, public 
safety, criminology or other related disciplines from 
recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career 
courses for such position as may be established by the Fire 
Bureau; 
3) District Fire Marshal, Provincial Fire Marshal, Assistant 
Regional Director for Administration, Assistant Regional 
Director for Operations and Regional Chief of Directorial 
Staff. 
– 
Should 
have 
the 
rank 
of 
SENIOR 
SUPERINTENDENT [superintendent], who must be a 
graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a master’s 
degree in public administration, management, engineering, 
public safety, criminology or other related disciplines from 
recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career 
courses for such position as may be established by the Fire 
Bureau; 
4) District Fire Marshal for the National Capital Region, 
ASSISTANT REGIONAL    DIRECTOR      FOR      
ADMINISTRATION FOR    THE NATIONAL      CAPITAL    
REGION,       ASSISTANT    REGIONAL DIRECTOR    FOR    
OPERATIONS FOR THE     NATIONAL CAPITAL 
REGION, Regional Director for Fire Protection [and Director 
of the Directorate of the National Headquarters Office]. – 
Should 
have 
at 
least 
the 
rank 
of 
[CHIEF 
SUPERINTENDENT [senior superintendent], who must be 
a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of master's 
degree in public administration, management, engineering, 
public safety, criminology or other related disciplines from a 
recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career course 
for such position as may be established by the Fire Bureau; 
5) DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE OF THE 
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OFFICE AND REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL  REGION - 
SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST THE RANK OF DIRECTOR, 
WHO MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS 
OR A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC 
ADMINISTRATION, 
MANAGEMENT, 
ENGINEERING, 
PUBLIC  SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER RELATED 
DISCIPLINES FROM RECOGNIZED INSTITUTIONS OF 
LEARNING, AND MUST HAVE SATISFACTORILY 
PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER 
COURSES 
FOR 
SUCH 
POSITION 
AS MAY 
BE 
ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU. 


[5)] 6) Deputy Chief for Administration of the Fire Bureau, 
Deputy Chief for Operations of the Fire Bureau and Chief 
Directorial Staff of the Fire Bureau.- Should have the rank of 
DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL [superintendent], who 
must be a member of the Philippine Bar or a holder of a 
master's degree in public administration, management, 
engineering, public safety, criminology or other related 
disciplines from recognized institution of learning, and must 
have satisfactory passed the necessary training or career 
courses for such as may be established by the Fire Bureau; 
and 
[6)] 7) Chief of the Fire Bureau. – Should have the rank of 
[DIRECTOR GENERAL [director], who must be a member 
of the Philippine Bar or a holder of a master's degree in 
public administration, management, engineering, public 
safety, criminology or other related discipline from a 
recognized institution of learning, and must satisfactory 
passed the necessary training or career courses for such 
position as may be established by the Fire Bureau. 
 
b) No person shall be designated to the following key positions of 
the BJMP unless he/she has met the qualification provided therein: 
1) Municipal Jail Warden. – Should have the rank of 
SUPERINTENDENT [chief inspector], who have finished at 
least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at least 
twelve (12) units in a master' degree program in 
management, 
public 
administration, 
public 
safety, 
criminology, 
penology, 
sociology, 
national 
security 
administration, defense studies, or other related disciplines 
from a recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career 
courses for such position as may be established by the Jail 
Bureau; 
2) City Jail Warden. – Should have the rank of SENIOR 
SUPERINTENDENT [chief inspector], who must have 
finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at 
least twenty four (24) units in master's degree program in 
management, 
public 
administration, 
public 
safety, 
criminology, 
penology, 
sociology, 
national 
security 
administration, defense studies or related disciplines from a 
recognized institution of learning and must satisfactory 
passed the necessary training or career courses for such 
position 
as 
may 
be 
established 
by 
the 
Jail 
Bureau: Provided, That in city jails with a population of one 
thousand (1,000) or more inmates, the city jail warden shall 
the rank and qualification of a district jail warden; 
3) District Jail Warden, Provincial Jail Administrator, 
Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Assistant 
Regional Director for Operations and Regional Chief of 
Directorial Staff. – Should have the rank of senior 
superintendent, who must be a graduate of Bachelor of 
Laws or a holder of a master's degree in management, 
public administration, public safety, criminology, penology, 
sociology, national security administration, defense studies 
or other related discipline from a recognized institution of 


learning, and must satisfactory passed the necessary 
training or career courses for such position as may be 
established by the Jail bureau; 
4) Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology 
ASSISTANT REGIONAL      DIRECTOR FOR 
ADMINISTRATION 
FOR 
THE 
NATIONAL CAPITAL 
REGION   (NCR) and ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR 
FOR OPERATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL 
REGION (NCR) [and Director of the Directorate of the 
National Headquarters Office.] – Should have the rank of 
CHIEF [senior] superintendent, who must be a graduate of 
Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a master's degree in 
management, 
public 
administration, 
public 
safety, 
criminology, 
penology, 
sociology, 
national 
security 
administration, defense studies or other related discipline 
from a recognized institution of learning, and must 
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career 
courses for such position as may be established by the Jail 
bureau; 
5) DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE OF THE 
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OFFICE AND REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION 
(NCR) - SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF DIRECTOR, WHO 
MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS OR 
A 
HOLDER 
OF 
A 
MASTER'S 
DEGREE 
IN 
MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC 
SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY, PENOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, 
NATIONAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEFENSE 
STUDIES OR OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINE FROM A 
RECOGNIZED INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, AND MUST 
HAVE SATISFACTORILY PASSED THE NECESSARY 
TRAINING 
OR 
CAREER 
COURSES 
FOR 
SUCH 
POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE JAIL 
BUREAU. 
[5)] 6) Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, 
Deputy Chief for Operations of the Jail Bureau and Chief of 
Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau. – Should have the rank 
of 
DEPUTY 
DIRECTOR 
GENERAL 
[senior 
superintendent], who must be a member of the Philippine 
Bar or a holder of a master's degree in management, public 
administration, 
public 
safety, 
criminology, 
penology, 
sociology, national security administration, defense studies 
or other related discipline from a recognized institution of 
learning, and must satisfactory passed the necessary 
training or career courses for such position as may be 
established by the Jail bureau; and 
[6)] 7) Chief of the Jail Bureau. – Should have the rank of 
DIRECTOR GENERAL [director], who must be a member 
of the Philippine Bar or a holder of a master's degree in 
management, 
public 
administration, 
public 
safety, 
criminology, 
penology, 
sociology, 
national 
security 
administration, defense studies or other related discipline 
from a recognized institution of learning, and must 
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career 


courses for such position as may be established by the Jail 
bureau. 
Any uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP who is currently 
occupying such position but lacks any of the qualifications 
mentioned therein shall be given three(3) years upon the effectivity 
of this Act to comply with the requirements, otherwise he/she shall 
be relieved from the position. 
 
SECTION 5. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9263 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
SEC. 12. Standardization of the Base Pay, Retirement and other 
Benefits of the Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and the BJMP. – 
In order to enhance the general welfare, commitment to service and 
professionalism of the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the 
BJMP, they shall receive the minimum starting salary equivalent to 
the salary grade level of the corresponding rank classification of 
their counterparts in the PNP, as provided under Section 36 of 
Republic Act No. 8551, and in the AFP, as provided under Section 
2 of Republic Act No. 9166. 
The rate of the base pay of the uniformed personnel of the BFP and 
the BJMP shall be adjusted in accordance with the following RANK 
CLASSIFICATION AND salary grade schedule: 
RANK SALARY 
GRADE 
FIRE/JAIL DIRECTOR GENERAL 
30 
FIRE/JAIL DEPUTY DIRECTOR 
GENERAL 
29 
Fire/Jail Director 
28 
Fire/Jail Chief Superintendent 
27 
Fire/Jail Senior Superintendent 
26 
Fire/Jail Superintendent 
25 
Fire/Jail Chief Inspector 
24 
Fire/Jail Senior Inspector 
23 
Fire/ Jail Inspector 
22 
Senior Fire/Jail Officer IV 
19 
Senior Fire/Jail Officer III 
18 
Senior Fire/Jail Officer II 
17 
Senior Fire/Jail Officer I 
16 
Fire/ Jail Officer III 
14 
Fire/Jail Officer II 
12 
Fire/Jail Officer I 
10 
Provided, That all benefits currently receive by the uniformed 
personnel of the BFP and the BJMP under existing laws shall 
continue to be received by them: Provided, Further, That their 
retirement pay shall be subject to adjustment/s based on the 
prevailing scale of base pay of the uniformed personnel in the active 
service. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations – The Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Department 
of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Finance (DOF), in consultation 


with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
(BJMP) shall, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and 
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year following 
its enactment into law and thereafter.  
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional 
or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force effect. 
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, ordinances, 
rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 10.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,