EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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cl ll)c g'fn I.irj)
S. B. No.
SENATE
204
’19 
JUL -2 P3 '24
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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.
SENATOR CHRISTO
LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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C3U.tf 01 il_j; £ \ r:lnrp
senat|0 4
S. B. No.
*19 JUL-2 P3--24
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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 o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. S h o rt Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Fire Protection 
Modernization Act of 2019."
SEC. 2. D eclaration o f 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. A d d itio n a l Functions o f 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;


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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 issuance of the building permit.
SEC 4. Fire P rote ction M odernization 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 Flospitals. The BFP shall design and establish a qualifications 
upgrading program for the BFP officers and personnel in accordance with the


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Civil Sen/ice Commission rules and regulations;
c) Capability, material, and technology development - The modernization program 
shall upgrade existing fire protection equipment and services and acquire of 
new equipment for fire protection: P r o v id e d , t h e  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 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
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. M u lti-Y e a r C ontracts o r O th er C on tractu al A rra n g e m e n t - 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. A n n u a l R eport. -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.


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SEC 7. Period o f Implementation. -T h e  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 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.
SEC 9. Im plem enting 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. - All 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,