'. 
~rl1c!fp 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
t@ffl;:t {if Hjl;' ,j(>nriarq 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'" '17 
. 
., 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 15 0 <1 
·"ny.~(' . 
. . V 
(. 
INTRODUCIiD QY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Fire disasters and emergencies take place in specific localities in provinces, 
cities, municipalities and barangays. Given this scenario, it is just appropriate for 
the Bureau of Fire Protection to be devolved to the local government units. 
There is no reason for fire men and other fire fighting personnel to be provided 
with national status, since these people are known to cater to the fire prevention 
~n(l r~S91)~ r~ql)ir~m~nt!? of th~ir re!?p~ctiv~ 109~1 government units, and not the 
country as a whole. 
Hence, this bill proposes to amend Sections 17, 443, 454, 463 and 478 of Book 
III, Title V of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government 
Code of 1991" by including fire protection services as devolved function and the 
persOIinel be ineluded in tt1e organizational structure of every provinee, city and 
municipality and whose powers and functions are herein defined properly. 
It is therefore mandatory for every province, city and municipality to be given their 
respective offices in fire protection, so as to provide prompt and efficient service 
to their constituents, especially during instances of fire-related emergencies and 
disasters. 
.. 
-
-
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 
·t' ,'" 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
$'!"!{!tQr 


;Sermb 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
(~fhr(' uf illt·.t~Y1'lrt.'l;rv 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. _1_5_0_4 
INTRODUC~D BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
DEVOLVING 
FIRE PROTECTION 
SERVICES, AMENDING 
FOR THIS 
PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1160, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991", 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "DEPARTMENT 
OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1990", REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 9263, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "BUREAU OF FIRE 
PROTECTION AND BI,IREAI,I OF .,IAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY 
PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 2004", REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9592, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT EXTENDING FOR FIVE (5) YEARS THE 
REGLEMENTARY 
PERIOD 
FOR 
COMPLYING 
WITH 
THE 
MINIMUM 
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION AND APPROPRIATE ELIGIBILITY FOR 
APPOINTMENT IN THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE 
BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP), AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263", AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in ConfJress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall. be known as the "Bureau of Fire 
Protection (BFP) Devolution Act of 2013". 
SEC 2. Section 17, paragraph b, subparagraph 2 of Republic Act No. 7160 is 
hereby amended by inserting a new paragraph (iv) to read as follows: 
"SEC. 17. Basic Services and Facilities. (a) x x x 
(b) x x x 
(1) For a Barangay: 
xxx 
(2) For a Municipality: 
(i) 
x x x 
(ii) 
x x x 
(iii) 
x x x 


" 
(iv) 
FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE 
PROGRAMS 
AND 
POLICIES 
ON 
FIRE 
PREVENTION 
AND 
SUPPRESSION, 
AND 
EMERGENCY SERVICES SUCH AS RESCUE AND 
EVACUATION. 
(v) 
[(iv)] x x x 
(vi) 
[(v)] x x x 
(vii) 
[(vi)] x x x 
(viii) 
[(vii)] x x x 
(ix) 
[(viii)] x x x 
(x) 
[(IX)] x x x 
(xi) 
[(x)] x x x 
(xii) 
[(xi)] x x x 
(xiii) 
[(xii)] x x x 
SEC 3. Section 17, paragraph b, subparagraph 3 of Republic Act No. 7160 is 
hereby amended by inserting a new paragraph (v) to read as follows: 
"SEC. 17. Basic Services and Facilities. (a) x x x 
(b) x x x 
(1) x x x 
(2) x x x 
(3) For a Province: 
(i) 
x x x 
(ii) 
x x x 
(iii) 
x x x 
(iv) 
x x x 
(v) 
FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE 
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FIRE FIGHTING 
. TRAININGS ON FIRE FIGHTING TECHNIQUES, 
FIRE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
PROCEDURESfi:!NVESTIGATION OF CAUSES OF 
FIRES 
. AND I,; FILING 
OF· APPROPRIATE 
COMPLAINTS ~~LATIVE THERETO. 
(vi) 
[(v)] x x x 
rl::" 
(vii) 
[(vi)] x x x 
.. 
(viii) 
[(vii)] x x x 
(ix) 
[(viii)] x x x 
(x) 
[(ix)] x x x 
(xi) 
[(x)) x x x 
(xii) 
[(xi)] x x x 
(xiii) 
[(xii)] x x x" 
SEC 4. Section 17, paragraph 4~ subparagraph (ii) of Republic Act No. 7160 is 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 17. Basic Services and Facilities. (a) x x x 
(b) x x x 


., 
" 
(b) x x x 
(1) x x x 
(2) x x x 
(3) x x x 
(4) For a City: 
All the services and facilities of the municipality and province, and 
in addition thereto, the following: 
(i) 
. x x x 
(ii) 
Support for education, police and fire PROTECTION 
services AS 
PROVIDED 
BY 
PARAGRAPH 
B, 
SUBPARAGRAPH 2 (iV) AND PARAGRAPH 2, 
SUBPARAGRAPH 2 M HEREOF, and facilities." 
SEC 5. Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC. 443. Officials of the Municipal Govemment. -
(a) There 
~hall be in eaqh municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-
mayor, 
sangguniang 
bayan 
members, 
a 
secretary to the 
sangguniang bayan, a mUlJicipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a 
municipal accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal 
planning and development coordinator, a municipal engineer I 
building official, a municipal health officer, A MUNICIPAL FIRE 
PROTECTION OFFICER and a muniCipal Civil registrar." 
SEC 6. Section 454 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC. 454. Officials of the City Govemment. - (a) There shall be 
in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod 
members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city 
treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a 
city planning and development coordinator, a city engineer, a city 
health officer, A CITY FIRE PROTECTION OFFICER, a city civil 
registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city veterinarian, 
a city social welfare and development officer, and a city general 
services officer." 
SEC 7. Section 463 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC. 463. Officials of the Provincial Govemment. - (a) There 
$!1~!! !;l~ ill ~~qh prQvillq~ ~ gov~mQr, ~ Viq~-gQv~mQr, rnern!;l~r~ of 
the sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang 
panlalawigan, a provincial treasurer, a provincial assessor, a 
provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a provincial budget 
officer, a provincial planning and development coordinator, a 
provincial legal officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial health 


officer, A PROVINCIAL FIRE PROTECTION OFFICER, a provincial 
social welfare and development officer, a provincial general 
services officer, a provincial agriculturist, and a provincial 
veterinarian." 
SEC 8. 
Section 478-A shall be added after Section 478 of Article Eight of 
Republic Act No. 7160 to read as follows: 
"ARTICLE EIGHT 
"SEC. 478. x x x 
"SEC. 
478-A 
THE 
FIRE 
PROTECTION 
OFFICER. 
gl/AJ,IF/~A T/QN$, PQWE;R$ ANi:) i:)1/T/E;$, - (A) NQ P~R$QN 
SHALL BE APPOINTED FIRE PROTECTION OFFICER UNLESS 
HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL 
CHARACTER, 
AND 
A 
DULY 
LICENSED 
ELECTRICAL 
ENGINEER. 
HE MUST HAVE PASSED THE PSYCHIATRIC I 
PSYCHOLOGICAL, DRUG AND PHYSICAL TESTS FOR THE 
PURPOSE OF DETERMINING HIS I HER PHYSICAL AND 
MENTAL HEALTH, AND MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE 
IN THE PRACTICE OF HIS PROFESSION OF AT LEAST FIVE (5) 
YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL OR CITY FIRE 
PROTECTION OFFICER, AND THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE 
OF THE MUNICIPAL F'IR~ PROTECrlON OFFICER. 
"THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRE PROTECTION OFFICER 
SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. 
(B) THE FIRE PROTECTION OFFICER SHALL SUPERVISE THE 
FIRE PROTECTION OFFICE WHICH SHALL HAVE THE 
FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS: 
(1) PREVENT AND SUPPRESS ALL DESTRUCTIVE 
FIRES AND BUILDINGS, HOUSES, AND OTHER 
STRUCTURES, 
FORESTS, 
LAND 
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, 
SHIPS OR VE$SELS DQCKED AT PIERS OR 
WHARVES OR ANCHORED IN MAJOR SEAPORTS, 
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY INSTALLATIONS, RAIL 
AND 
AIR 
CRASHES 
AND 
OTHER 
SIMILAR 
INCIDENTS; 
(2) IMPLEMENT 
PROGRAMS 
AND 
POLICIES 
DESIGNED TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE 
FIRE PROTECTION CAPABILITY OF THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNIT; 
(3) ENSURE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE FIRE 
COI;>t; ANI;> QTH!;R Rt;LATt;1;> LAW$; 
(4) INITIATE FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY 
SERVICES SUCH AS RESCUE AND EVACUATION 


OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS AT FIRE-RELATED 
INCIDENTS; 
(5) MAINTAIN THE FIRE ENGINE EQUIPMENT IN ITS 
PRQP!;R CQNOITIQN, ASSIST IN TH!; T!;STING 
OF FIRE HYDRANTS AND VERIFY EMERGENCY 
WATER SUPPLIES; 
(6) CONDUCT PUBLIC SAFETY DRILLS SUCH AS FOR 
RESCUE AND EVACUATION IN FIRE-RELATED 
DISASTROUS INOIDENTS; 
(7) INSPECT HOUSES, 
BUILDINGS AND 
OTHER 
STRUCTURES TO PREVENT FIRES BY ENSURING 
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FIRE CODE AND OTHER 
RELATED LAWS; 
(8) DISSEMINATE FIRE SAFETY INFORMATION AND 
EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC SO AS TO HELP 
PROMOTE FIRE SAFETY AWARENESS SUCH AS 
GIVING TALKS IN SCHOOLS AND TO LOCAL 
ORGANIZATIONS, 
AND 
HOME 
VISITS 
TO 
PROVIDE ADVICE; 
(9) ASSIST IN THE SUPPRESSION ON DESTRUCTIVE 
FIR~S 
QCClJRRING 
IN 
N~IGHeQRING 
LOCALITIES; 
, 
(10) 
IN 
ADDITION 
TO 
THE 
FOREGOING 
FUNCTIONS, THE FIRE PROTECTION OFFICE AT 
THE PROVINCIAL AND CITY LVELS INCLUDING 
MUNIOIPALITIES WITHIN THE NATIONAL OAPITAL 
REGION (NCR) SHALL: 
I. INVESTIGATE CAUSES OF DESTRUCTIVE 
FIRES. PREPARE REPORTS ON FIRES IN 
CASES WHEREIN THE CAUSE OF THE 
FIRE MAY BE ARSON OR CRIMINAL 
NEGLIGENCE AND IF WARRANTED. FILE 
THE 
. APPROPRIATE 
COMPLAINTS 
RELATIVE THERETO; 
II. MONITOR, EVALUATE AND OOORDINATE 
THE OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF 
THE FIRE SERVICE OPERATING UNITS AT 
THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL; 
III. CONDUCT 
FIRE 
SERVICE TRAININGS 
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO FIRE 
FIGHTING 
TECHNIQUES, 
FIRE 
PREVENTION, 
AND 
EMERGENCY 
M!;DICAb PRQCI;DVRI;S; 
(11) 
EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND 
PERFORM SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE 
PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE." 


SEC 9. 
Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
SEC 10. Repealing Clause. - All existing pertinent provisions of Republic Act 
No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", Republic 
Act No. 6975, otherwise knowl1 as the '!Department of the Interier' aM Leesl 
Government Act of 1990, Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise known as the 
"Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
Professionalization Act of 2004", Republic Act No. 9592, otherwise known as "An 
Act Extending for Five (5) Years the Reglementary Period for Complying with the 
Minimum Educational Qualification and Appropriate Eligibility for Appointment in 
the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and 
Penology (BJMP), Amending for the Purpose Section 4 of Republic Act No. 
9263", and all laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby amended, repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,