Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOusE:]`i'i:ilo.6200
Introduced by Representative Eduardo Roa Rama ]r.
EXPLANAT ORY N OTE
This bill seeks to require owners of residential building or structures to maintain portable
fire cxtinguishefs.
Residential fires, which rank as the sixth leading cause of unintentional injury-related death
in the  Philippines,  are  mt)stl}T caused by  faulty  electrical  wiring or  connections,  unsupervised
open  flames,  and  neglected  electrical  equipment  or  gadgets.   Republic  Act  QIA)  No.  9514,
otherwise known as the  `F/.„ Co//€ a/`Z/yc J%7./.Z!Pz.77ar a/-2008 ", lays the framework for the enforcement
and administration of fire safety measures for persons, buildings, stn]ctures and facilities.
Under RA 9514, buildings are classified into residential, assembly, educational, health care,
detention and correctional, mercantile, business, industrial, stofzige, mixed occupancics, and other
miscellaneous  occupancies.   As  consistently observed, and regardless  of the  existing  fire  safety
measures,  protective  and  warning  systems,  and  fire  safety  programs,  the  statistics  on  fire
incidents involving residential buildings remain high and frequent.
Thus, to  enhance  the  safety of the occupants,  this bill  seeks to requii.e owners  of any
residential building or structure to maintain a portable fire exrfuguisher. Given the ease in its usage,
as  well  as  the  minimal  training and orientation needed to  operate  a portable  fire  extinguisher,
installing or maintaining one may help in abating and suppressing incident fires, and preventing
small   fires   from  growing  into  big  fires   that  may  cause  injury,  death   and  desti.uction  of
properties.
Further,  as  residential  fires  often  occur. in  densely populated areas where  occupants
are less likely to maintain portable fire extinguishers due to the added financial weight, it can
add up to the everyday woes of the low~income households, this bill includes a provision  fol-
subsidy in the procurement and maintenance of the portable fire extinguishers.
Finally,  to  ensure  the  awai.eness  of the  public  on  fire  safety  and  compliance,  the  ball
mandates  the  Bureau  of Fire  Protection  to  conduct regula,1. inspection t>f residential  builc]ings,
especially those communities that are prone to fires.
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sc>ught.


EDUARD0 ROA RAMA, TR
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Republic of the 1'hilippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUsEi|L-L'No.6200
Introduced by Representative Eduardo R. Rama, ]r.
AN ACT REQUIRING OWNERS 0F RESIDENTIAL BUIIDINGS 0R
STRUCTURES T0 MAINTAIN PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Be  i[  enacted  ky  flJe  Seliute  and tl.Je Hoitse  Of Ref)reserlfati`rles  Of tlJe PIJilippin,e`f in  Cangre`f i  assemlJled,:
SFcrloN  1. Every owner t]f any residential building oi. structure sh2ill maintin portable
fire extinLquishers in commensurate with the number of occuparits and the frequency of occupancy,
use,  equipment contained  in  the  1.esidential  building,  and the  hazard  classification  of the  area,
regardless  of whether  the  residential  building  or  stmctui.e  is  already  equipped  with  fixed  fire
protecti()n system and equipment,
As  used  in  this  Act,  residential  building  or  structure  refers  to  any  structure  built  for
occupancy  purposes  such  as  apartments,  condominiums,  dot.mitories,  single  detached,  single
attached, row houses, and all other similai. structures established permanentl}T as dwelling.
SEC. 2. The city or municipality shall, through the city or municipal fife marshal (C/MF`M),
determine the size, specification or type and number of portable fire extingulshei.s appropriate for
the different classes of residential buildings under its jurisdiction.
Subject to  the evaluation ttf the C/MFM and apriroval of the Bureau of Fire Protection
@FP),  the  number  of portable  fire  extinguishers  in  any  residential  building  may  increase  ol.
decrease on the basis of the frequency oi. regularity of its occupancy.
SEC.  3.   The  low-income  households  shall  receive  a subsidy  or  support  from the  local
government unit and the nati()nal government to pui-chase the required pottable fire extinguishers.
The  city  or  municipal  planning  and  development  officer  (C/MPDO)  shall  assess  the
poverty threshold  and identify the income classes  in the local governrnent unit concerned.  The
results of the assessment and c]assification, upon validation by the Philippine Statistics Authority,
shall serve as reference for the subsidy or support.


1                     Sr+C.  4.  The  BFP,  in  coordination  with  the  office  of the  C/MF`M,  is  authorized  and
2       mandated to  conduct regular inspection of residential buildings  at reasonable hours  to  test the
3       efficiency of the portable fire extinguishers maintained in any residential buildingr.
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5                      SEC. 5.   The amount necessary for the initial implcmentation of this Act shall be charged
6       against thL`  B[`TI' Modernization Tmst Fund created under section  7 of Republic Act  (RA)  No.
7        11589, otherwise known as the  `B„.c4v/ a/.Fz.„ ProJ%./7.o# Mod"`w.€z7J7.o# _4c/. "Thereafter, such sums
8       as  may  bc  necessary  for  the  continued  implementation  of this  Act  shall  be  included  in  the
9       appropriation for the BFp in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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11                      The am(>unt needed by the city c>r municipality for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged against the share of the city t)r municipality from all taxes, fees and fines c()llect.ed pursuant
to RA 9514, otlxerw.tsekr+own as tine  `Tire (;ode o`f llle PIJilj|)Piue.I qf 20()8 ."
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15                       SEC. 6. \X'7ithin ninety (9()) days from the effectivity of this Act, the secretary of the Interior
16       and  Local  Government  shall  pi.omulgate  the  necessary  rules  and  regulations  for  the  effective
17       implemcntation of this Act.
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19                      SEC.  7. All laws, executive ()rdets, issuances, mles and regulations or parts thereof which
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are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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22                       SEC. 8. This Act shaH take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Q^rf/7.c7.#/ G#q,f/7p
23       or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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2 5                     App roved,
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