REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __934

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

When Republic Act No. 9263, also known as the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of
Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004", was enacted into law new
and more stringent requirements were imposed for those intending to join the Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to
professionalize their ranks. RA 9263 was amended by RA 9592 last May 8, 2009 in order to
adjust the requirements to allow the retention of existing personnel of both the BFP and
BIMP.

Although these legislations proved to be beneficial to the concerned agencies, the updated
standards pertaining to educational qualification and civil service eligibility have rendered it
difficult for many applicants to qualify for entry-level positions at the BFP, particularly those
aspiring to become Truck Drivers/Mechanics. This fact has resulted to fairly low employment
rate in the said agency.

This is contrary to the lofty intentions of our Constitution, which seeks, among others, to
enhance full protection to labor and to promote full employment and equality of employment
opportunities for all.

Therefore, in accordance to the policy of the State, this bill is being proposed to address this
issue by rationalizing the qualifications for the appointment to entry-level positions of the
BFP, while upholding professionalism in the said agency.

It is hoped that the passage of this measure will open up more opportunities for qualified
applicants who aspire to serve our country and our people as part of the uniformed personnel
of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

OCHAN IIL

Magdalo Para’Sa Pilipino Party-List


ey aua wn

10
i
12
13

14

15
16
7

18
19

20
2a

22

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 934

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
CREATING THE POSITION/RANK OF FIRE TRUCK OFFICER (FTO) IN THE
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title of the Act. - This Act shall be known as the "The Fire Truck
Officer Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~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.

The State shall likewise afford full protection to labor and promote full employment
and equality of employment opportunities for all.

SEC. 3.— There shall be created the position and rank of Fire Truck Officer in the
Bureau of Fire Protection with the designation of Fire Truck Driver-Mechanic. For purposes
of promotion within the rank, a Fire Truck Officer can hold the Item of Fire Truck Officer 1
(FTO1), Fire Truck Officer 2 (FTO2) or Fire Truck Officer 3 (FTO3).

SEC. 4. Requirements and Qualifications. No person shall be appointed as Fire
Truck Officer (FTO) in the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) unless he/she possesses the
following minimum qualifications:

a. A citizen of the Republic of the Philippines;
b. A person of good moral character;

c. Must have passed the neuro-psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical tests for
the purpose of determining his/her physical and mental health;

d. Must be at least a High School Graduate from recognized institution of learning;


wee

wo rvea

coe
12
13

14

16
wv
18

19

20
21

22

23
24
25

26

27
28
29

30

31
32
33
34
35
36

. Must be a driver (NC3) and must possess a valid professional driver's license with
restrictions 1, 2 and 3;

f, Must be a mechanic duly certified by the Technical Education Skills and
Development Authority (TESDA) or by any private institution accredited by the
latter;

g. Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving
moral turpitude;

h, Must be at least twenty-one (21) years old but not more than thirty-five (35) years
of age at the time of his/her appointment;

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

SEC. 5. Appointment of Fire Truck Officer of the BFP. The appointment of Fire
‘Truck Officer 1 to Fire Truck Officer 3 (PTOI to FTO3) of the BFP shall be made by the
respective Regional Director of the BFP or by the Chief of the BFP for appointments in the
national headquarters, and attested by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

SEC. 6. Position and Designation. Successful applicants shall have the entry
position as Fire Truck Officer 1 with the designation as Fire Truck Driver-Mechanic.

SEC. 7. Salaries and compensation. — The salaries and compensation of successful
applicants shall be Salary Grade 6 for Fire Truck Officer 1 (FTO1); Salary Grade 7 for Fire
Truck Officer 2 (FT02); and Salary Grade 8 for Fire Truck Officer 3 (FT03).

SEC. 8. Mandatory Training. — As uniformed personnel of the BFP, Fire Truck
Officers shall undergoa30-day mandatory training in accordance with the Program of
Instruction (POI) to be formulated by the National Fire Training Institute (NFTI).

SEC. 9. Opportunity for Promotions. A Fire Truck Officer shall not be eligible for
promotion to Fire Officer 1 (FOI) unless he/she has complied with the minimum
Qualification Standard (QS) requirements set forth by RA No. 9263, as amended by RA No.
9592. However, an FTO I shall be eligible for promotion to the next higher rank of FT02, and
thereafter, to FTO3, in accordance with the existing rules and regulations set by the CSC and
criteria for promotion to be established by the BFP.


Cevrau ez wne

1
12
123

4

15
16
7

18

19
20
2

SEC. 10. Appropriations. — The funds for the positions of FTO1 to FTO3 created in
the staff of the BFP pursuant to this law shall be included in the General Annual
Appropriation (GAA) of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), for approval by Congress.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations The Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the BEP, the CSC, the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF) shall, within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provision of this Act.

SEC, 12. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not prejudice the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions not affected thereby.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and
other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are
hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
the country.

Approved,