NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was established by virtue of Republic Act No. 
6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990. 
Its role and functions were further reinforced by the passage of Republic Act No. 9514, also 
known as the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008. In 2010, the BFP launched its 
Modernization Program pursuant to R.A. No. 9514 which aimed to upgrade the 
government's firefighting capability with adequate personnel and equipment in order to 
safeguard the public from the hazards of destructive fire.  
This bill seeks to strengthen and modernize the Bureau of Eire Protection in order to 
better serve the Filipino people. It also aims to conduct the employment of more trained 
personnel as well as the procurement of modern fire equipment in order to maximize the 
services for public safety. In addition, the bill aims to establish an efficient and reliable 
monitoring scheme to keep track of the projects implemented by the modernization program 
and ensure their timely accomplishment. Lastly, this bill intends to encourage BFP’s 
continued partnership with key stakeholders for a coordinated effort in safeguarding the 
public from the hazards of destructive fires.  
 In view of the foregoing the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
September 11, 2023
8:00 am
9098


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT  
STRENGTHENING AND MODERNIZING THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Fire Protection Modernization 
Act".  
SECTION  2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to uphold public safety 
through the prevention and suppression of all kinds of destructive fires as well as the 
promotion of the professionalization of the fire service. Moreover, the State shall enforce all 
laws, rules and regulations in order to guarantee compliance-to the standard of fire 
prevention and safety measures and ensure accountability in tire protection and prevention 
service. Towards this end, the State shall implement a Fire Protection Modernization 
Program.  
SECTION  3. Additional Functions of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BSP). - Aside from its 
existing functions under Republic Act No. 9514 and Republic Act No. 6975, the BFP shall 
have the following functions:  
a) Be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on
buildings, houses and other structures, including those found in economic zones including 
Igorot-industrial economic zones, free ports and special economic zones, IT parks/centers, 
manufacturing economic zones, medical tourism parks/centers, tourism economic zone, and 
other similar entities;  
b) Establish and maintain regional arson laboratories and research and testing
facilities with complete equipment; 
c) Respond to disasters, whether manmade or natural, and respond to other
emergencies, including rescue, emergency medical, hazardous materials (hazmat), 
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials, and other 
emergencies;  
d) Conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drive in all local
government units, particularly in informal settler areas and economically depressed areas, in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and  
e) Require the building owner to submit plans and specifications of the said building
and other pertinent documents as may be determined by BFP and evaluate the same to 
ensure compliance with the Fire Code and other applicable codes and standards. For this 
purpose, a fire safety evaluation clearance shall be issued as a prerequisite for the 
issuances of the building permit.  
9098


 
SECTION   4. Fire Protection Modernization Program. -  The Bureau of Fire Protection, in 
coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall 
establish and implement a Fire Protection Modernization Program, which shall consist of the 
following components:  
 
a) Fire Protection Service. - The modernization program shall include the 
establishment of Fire Protection Service (FPS) in all local government units with no existing 
fire protection services, and the establishment of rescue hotlines in all local government 
units;  
 
b)  Force Restructuring and Organizational Development. - The modernization 
programs shall develop the Bureau of Fire Protection into an efficient, responsive and 
modern agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government with the capability to   
implement Republic Act No.  9514 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines. The 
Bureau of Fire Protection, within ninety (90) days from the promulgation of the implementing 
rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act, shall recommend and submit to the Secretaries of 
Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Budget and 
Management     the revised organizational structure and staffing patterns for officers and 
personnel of the UP.    The revised organizational structure shall include all the offices of the 
BFP, the Fire Training Service, and the REP Central and Regional Hospitals. The BFP shall 
design and establish a qualification upgrading program for the BFP officers and personnel in 
accordance with the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations;  
 
c) Monitoring and Evaluation Services. - The modernization program shall put in 
place a monitoring and evaluation scheme to be supervised by the Regional Offices in order 
to track the individual progress of each of its component to be able to strengthen its 
monitoring the projects implemented and ensure their timely completion.  The MP shall 
likewise further develop its partnership with key stakeholders for a coordinated effort in 
safeguarding the populace from the hazards of destructive fires.  
 
d) Material and Technology Development. - The modernization programs shall 
upgrade existing fire protection equipment and services and acquire new equipment for fire 
protection. Provided, the acquisition of new equipment shall be synchronized with the phase-
out of uneconomical and obsolete major equipment and weapons systems in the BFP 
inventory;  
 
e) Specialized Services Development. - The modernization program shall establish 
specialized fire protection services within the BFP such as but not limited to high-rise 
building fires, forest fires, aircraft/airport fires, ship fires, chemical fires, disaster rescue 
services, emergency medical services, and the like; and 
 
f) Human Resource Development.  -  The modernization program shall include 
trainings for   MP   personnel and establish training facilities, hire internationally accredited 
training consultants and advisers if experts of equal qualification cannot be secured locally, 
to accelerate the personnel development program. All newly appointed uniformed personnel 
of the UP shall undergo a Mandatory Training Program. Within one hundred eighty (180) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DILG and the BFP Chief shall submit 
the details of the Fire Protection Modernization Program to Congress.  
 
SECTION  5.  Multi-Year Contracts or Other Contractual Arrangement. -  The Secretary of 
Interior and Local Government may, subject to the approval of the President, under 
provisions of existing laws and regulations including those of the Commission on Audit and 
under such terms and conditions favorable to the government, enter into multi-year contracts 


or other contractual agreements with local or foreign suppliers or contractors in the 
implementations of this Act.  
 
SECTION 6. Annual Report. - The BFP shall submit to the Office of the President and 
Congress, through the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, an annual report 
containing the process and status of the implementation of the Fire Protection Modernization 
Program.  
 
SECTION 7. Period of Implementation. - The Fire Protection Modernization Program under 
this Act, shall be implemented over a period of three (3) years effectives upon the date of the 
approval of this Act. Provided, that payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year 
contract obligations incurred under the modernization program may extend beyond this 
period.  
 
SECTION 8. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act 
shall be sourced from the BFP Modernization Trust Fund as provided for in Republic Act No. 
9514.  An additional amount of Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000.00) is hereby 
appropriated to be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year immediately 
following the effectivity of this Act.  
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the 
approval of this Act, the BIT and DILG shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary 
to implement the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. -  Any portion or provision of this Act that is declared 
unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as 
long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.  
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances 
or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.  
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,