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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. Bets

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ

and
HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING AND MODERNIZING THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2008, Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the “Fire Code of the
Philippines” was passed. It is the principal law governing the prevention and
suppression of all destructive fires and the professionalization of the fire service as a
profession. Accordingly, the Code provided the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) with a
trust fund assigned for the modernization of the BFP.

However, 10 years since the passage of the Fire Code, it seems BFP
modernization has not been a priority with incidents of fire still increasing. In 2018,
the Bureau of Fire Protection reported an increase in fire incidents with 14,316 fire
occurrence killing 222 people.

The BFP has failed modernizing its equipment. As of 2017, the BFP has 2,674
fire trucks; this is 932 units short of the ideal number. Almost 400 municipalities
nationwide do not have their own fire trucks. Furthermore, the Commission on Audit
(COA) reported that that at least 1,094 or 39.3% of fire trucks owned by the
government were bought between 1950 and 1999, with at least 8 acquired between
1950 and 1959. This is way beyond a fire truck's useful life span of 5 to 15 years.



The COA also reported in 2017 the lack of firefighters in the country with only
23,030 firefighters — less than half of the ideal number of 50,490 firefighters. The BFP
said it requested a bigger budget to hire at least 10,000 more personnel, but the
Department of Budget and Management only approved hiring 2,000 personnel. It is
further reported that the BFP lacks self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) devices
which are crucial equipment for rescuers going into burning structures. The BFP only
has 1,939 units ~ a shortage of 7,022 units to reach the ideal 4 per fire truck ratio.

While fire incidents are unexpected, they can be prevented or, at the very least,
we can mitigate their destruction through proper safety measures and availability of
protection services. This proposed measure seeks to establish a Fire Protection
Modernization Program to be implemented by the BFP which shall include hiring of
more personnel, acquiring modern fire equipment, trainings for firefighters, among
others. This bill has provided an appropriation for the proper implementation of the
program.

With the passage of this bill, it is hoped that the BFP will be able to suppress
all kinds of destructive fires and prevent deaths and injuries.

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

Rep. YEDD: E K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative} /Tingog Sinirangan



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3275

House Bill No.

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

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 of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Fire Protection
Modernization Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to develop the
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), ensure public safety through the prevention of and
suppression of all kinds of destructive fires with the active support of the community.
Towards this end, the State shall implement a Fire Protection Modernization Program.

SEC. 3. Additional Functions of the BFP. - Aside from its existing functions
under Republic Act No 9514 and Republic Act No. 6975, the BFP shall be 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 agro-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;
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;
) 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 issuance of the building permit.

SEC 4. Fire Protection Modernization Program. — The Bureau of Fire
Protection, in coordination with the 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
program shall develop the BFP into a compact, efficient, responsive and modern
with the capability to implement Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the
Fire Code of the Philippines. The BFP, 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 DILG and Department of Budget
and Management the revised organizational structure and staffing pattern for
officers and personnel of the BFP. The revised organizational structure shall


include all the offices of the BFP, the Fire Training Service, and the BFP Central
and Regional Hospitals. The BFP shall design and establish a qualifications
upgrading program for the BFP officers and personnel in accordance with the
Civil Service Commission rules and regulations;

©) Capability, material, and technology development - The modernization program
shall upgrade existing fire protection equipment and services and acquire of
new equipment for fire protection: Provided, That 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;

d) Specialized services development - The modemization 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

e) Human resource development - The modernization program shall include
trainings for BFP 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 BFP shall undergo a Mandatory
Training Program.

Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary

of DILG and the head of the BFP shall submit the details of the Fire Protection
Modernization Program to Congress.

‘SEC. 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 6 suppliers/contractors in the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 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.

SEC 7. Period of Implementation. —The Fire Protection Modernization
Program under this Act, shall be implemented over a period of three (3) years effective
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.

SEC 8. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act shalll 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.

SEC 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days
from the approval of this Act, the BFP and DILG shall promulgate the rules and
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act

SEC. 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.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - A\l laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed

or modified accordingly.

SEC. 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,