REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session
8484

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 14 of Presidential Decree No.1185 mandates local government units to collect fire
inspection fees from business establishments within their respective jurisdictions and to remit such
amounts to the National Treasury. The National Government, however, despite retaining the funds
collected through the efforts of these local government units, has failed to provide the necessary
firefighting equipment to local fire stations, making the duties of our firefighters rife with risks and
unforeseen dangers. The use of decrepit fire trucks and ramshackle equipment has and continues to
severely impair firefighting efforts leading to greater loss of life and property.

In 2017, total new appropriations for the Bureau of Fire Protection is slightly less than P13
million, the majority of which was for personnel services (P11,000,000); P1.5 million was set aside
for operating expenses; and a dismal P543,606 pesos was left for capital outlay. Moreover,
according to an article from Business Mirror, there are 2,245 fire trucks nationwide, but only 1,958,
or 87 percent, are serviceable or in working condition. Only nearly 163 are classified as
unserviceable and 124 are “under repair.” The BFP is also short if fire hoses and nozzles. Ideally,
the BFP should have 31,430 fire hoses, but based on the latest inventory, only 24,245 hoses are
serviceable, leaving a shortage of 7,185 fire hoses. The ideal number of fire nozzles is 8,980, but the
number of serviceable fire nozzles is 5,876, short of 3,104 units. Finally, a total of 8,980 sets of
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is the ideal number for the BFP. But the BFP only has
1,938 SCBA units, short of 7,042.

Clearly, with the abovementioned realities, there is a need to empower local government
units to better equip and modernize their local fire stations if it were to address the fire safety and
firefighting requirements of their respective jurisdictions. Under this Act, 50% of the collection
proceeds from all taxes, fees, and fines imposed under P.D. 1185, otherwise known as the Fire Code
Of the Philippines, shall be used for the maintenance and purchase of firefighting equipment for its
local fire stations.

The safety of the general public is of utmost importance, as such approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.

Gary PAlejano


Ceraueune

ll
12
13
14
15
16
7
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8484

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO.

AN ACT
ALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO RETAIN FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF
THE PROCEEDS FROM ALL TAXES, FEES, AND FINES COLLECTED UNDER
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED ELEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED

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

SECTION 1. Section 14 of Presidential Decree No. 1185, otherwise known as the Fire
Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 14. Collection of Taxes, Fees, and Fines —All taxes, fees, and fines provided
in Section 13 hereof, shall be collected by the City or Municipal Treasurer [concerned]
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF ALL SUCH
COLLECTIONS SHALL BE SET ASIDE AND RETAINED BY THE CITY OR
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CONCERNED, WHICH SHALL APPROPRIATE
THE SAME EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE USE OF ITS LOCAL FIRE STATION IN
THE PURCHASE OF FIRE TRUCKS, FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT,

APPLIANCE OR DEVICES, AND THE MAINTENANCE THEREOF; PROVIDED
FURTHER, THAT THE REMAINING FIFTY PERCENT (50%) SHALL BE REMITTED
[for remittance] to the National Treasury.”

SEC. 2. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,