Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Vo, Sol

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE ROMEO M. ACOP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Pursuant to the constitutional mandate of the State to maintain peace and
order, protect life, liberty and property, and promote the general welfare of the
people, it is therefore the responsibility of the State to strengthen government
capability aimed towards the strengthening of the delivery of basic services to the
citizenry through the institutionalization of highly efficient and competent fire
and jail services.

It is recognized that the uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BUMP) are
members of the uniformed service of the government under the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG). At present, the Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP) has an authorized strength of 32,952personnel,! while the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology (BJMP) has an authorized strength of 15,062
personnel.

However, the highest rank of uniformed personnel in both Bureaus
pursuant to Republic Act No. 9263 (entitled “Bureau of Fire Protection and
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004”) is
Fire/Jail Director which is equivalent to a two-star general rank in the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). In
comparison to this, the highest rank in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), with
an estimated personnel strength of 22,000, is Admiral, which is equivalent to a
four-star general rank in the AFP and PNP.

The uniformed men and women of the BFP and the BUMP are required the
same amount of sacrifice, service and dedication like their counterparts in the
PNP, the AFP and the PCG to carry out their respective duties to the extent of
risking their lives and limbs.Hence for fairness and parity, the rank structure of

'Statement of Fire Director Louie 8. Puracan, Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection. Official Facebook Page of
the Bureau of Fire Protection. (2022). Available at:
https: / /web.facebook.com watch / ?v=1004376390190208.

2Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2020). “Did You Know: Ratio of BJMP Personnel to PDLs". Available at:
https: //newsinfo.inquirer.net /1328081 /did-you-know-ratio-of-bjmp-personnel-to-pdls#ixzz7bFFI7275,
sPhilippine Coast Guard. (2022). “PCG workforce grows stronger under Duterte admin, over 1,700 personnel to
be added in 2022". Available at: _https://coastguard.gov.ph /index.php/downloads/11-news/4640-peg-
workforce-grows-stronger-under-duterte-admin-over-1-700-personnel-to-be-added-in-2022/.


the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP should be upgraded to a level
commensurate with their critical role in maintaining national security and peace
and order, at par with those of the PNP, the AFP and the PCG, taking into
consideration their exposure to high-risk environments in the performance of
their duties. With this reform, it is anticipated that more efficient and effective
services in the fields of public security and safety administration, and correction
and jail management will be established.

For the foregoing reason, the immediate consideration and passage of this
bill is earnestly sought.

‘HON. ROME® M. ACOP
Representative
2nd District, Antipolo City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3516

Introduced by HONORABLE ROMEO M. ACOP

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR UPGRADING THE RANK CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE OF
THE UNIFORMED MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP)
AND THEBUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP)
ORGANIZATION, AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
6975 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1.Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Rank Structure of the
uniformed members of Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail

Management and Penology of 2022.”

SECTION 2. Section 2, paragraph 4 and 5 of Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise
known as the “Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology Professionalization Act of 2004”, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy and Principles. —

At present, the Bureau of Fire Protection has an authorized


strength of 32,952, while the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology has an authorized strength of 15,062. The highest rank in
uniformed personnel in both Bureaus pursuant to Republic Act No.
6975 and Republic Act No. 9263 is Fire/Jail Director (equivalent to
two-star General}. In comparison, the highest rank in the Philippine
Coast Guard (PCG), with an estimate personnel strength of 22,000, is
Admiral, which is equivalent to four-star General in the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and

Philippine National Police (PNP).

Towards this end, the State shall provide for the upgrading of
the rank structure of uniformed members of the BFP and BJMP,
making it at par with those of the PNP, the AFP, the BuCor and the

PCG which are the uniformed agencies of the government.”

SECTION 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby further

amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 3. Organization and Key Positions of the BFP and the BJMP. —
The BFP and the BUMP shall be respectively headed by a Chief who
shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Chiefs, one (1) for Administration
and one (1) for Operations, all of whom shall be appointed by the
President upon recommendation of the Secretary of the DILG from
among the qualified officers with at least the rank of Brigadier

General in the service: Provided, that in no case shall any Officer who


has retired or is retirable within six (6) months from his/her
compulsory retirement age be appointed as Chief of the Fire Bureau
or Chief of the Jail Bureau, as the case may be; Provided, further,
that the Chief of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau shall
serve a tour of duty not to exceed four (4) years; Provided, however,
that in times of war or other National Emergency declared by

Congress, the President may extend such tour of duty.

The Heads of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of General
shall have the position title of Chief of the Fire Bureau and the Chief
of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The second officer in command of the
BFP and the BUMP with the rank of Lieutenant General shall have
the position title of Deputy Chief for Administration of the Fire
Bureau and Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau,
respectively. The third officer in command of the BFP and the BJMP
with the rank of Lieutenant General shall have the position title of
Deputy Chief for Operation of the Fire Bureau and Deputy Chief for
Operation of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The fourth officer in
command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of Lieutenant
General shall have the respective position title of Chief of Directorial
Staff of the Fire Bureau and Chief of Directorial Staff of the Jail
Bureau, who shall be assisted by the Directors of the Directorates in
the respective National Headquarters Office with at least the rank of

Major General.


The BFP and the BJMP shall construct, establish, operate and
maintain their respective Regional Offices in each of the
Administrative Regions of the Country which shall be respectively
headed by a Regional Director for Fire Protection and a Regional
Director of Jail Management and Penology with the rank of Brigadier
General. He/she shall be respectively assisted by the following
officers with the rank of Colonel: Assistant Regional Director for
Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, and
Regional Chief of Staff, except in NCR, where the aforementioned

officers shall have the rank of Brigadier General.”

SECTION 4. Section 5, paragraph D of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is

hereby further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Appointment of Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the
BJMP. — The appointment of the BFP and the BJMP shall be effected

in the following manners:

d) Fire/ Jail Brigadier General to Fire/Jail General. - Appointed by
the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of the DILG,
with the proper endorsement by the Chairman of the Civil Service

Commission (CSC).”

SECTION 5. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby further

amended to read as follows:


“SEC. 7.Upgrading of rank and educational Qualification Standards

in the Designation of Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and the BJMP

to Key Positions. ~

a) No person shall be designated to the following key positions in the

BFP unless he/she has met the qualifications provided therein:

q)

2)

Municipal Fire Marshal. — Should have the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel, who must have finished at least
second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twelve
(12) units in a Master’s Degree Program in Public
Administration, Management, Engineering, Public Safety,
Criminology or other related disciplines from a
recognized institution of learning, and must have
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career
courses for such position as may be established by the

Fire Bureau;

City Fire Marshal. - Should have the rank of Colonel, who
must have finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws
or earned at least twenty four (24) units in a Master's
Degree Program in Public Administration, Management,
Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or other related
disciplines from a recognized institution of learning, and

must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or


3)

4)

career courses for such position as may be established

by the Fire Bureau;

District Fire Marshal, District Fire Marshal for the National
Capital Region, Provincial Fire Marshal, Assistant
Regional Director for Administration, Assistant Regional
Director for Operations and Regional Chief of Directorial
Staff. — Should have the rank of Colonel, who must be a
graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a Master’s
Degree in Public Administration, Management,
Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or other related
disciplines from a recognized institution of learning, and
must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or
career courses for such position as may be established

by the Fire Bureau;

Regional Director for Fire Protection, Assistant Regional
Director for Administration (NCR) and Assistant Regional
Director for Operations (NCR). —Should have at least the
rank of Brigadier General, who must be a graduate of
Bachelor of Laws or a holder of Master’s Degree in Public
Administration, Management, Engineering, Public Safety,
Criminology or other related disciplines from a
recognized institution of learning, and must have

satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career


5)

6)

course for such position as may be established by the

Fire Bureau;

Director of the Directorate of the National Headquarters
Office and Regional Director for the National Capital
Region. — Should have at least the rank of Major
General, who must be a graduate of Bachelor of Lawsor a
holder of Master’s Degree in Public Administration,
Management, Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or
other related disciplines from a recognized institution of
learning, and must have satisfactorily passed the
necessary training or career course for such position as

may be established by the Fire Bureau;

Deputy Chief for Administration of the Fire Bureau,
Deputy Chief for Operations of the Fire Bureau and Chief
Directorial Staff of the Fire Bureau—-Should have the
rank of Lieutenant General, who must be a member of
the Philippine Bar or a holder of a Master’s Degree in
Public Administration, Management, Engineering, Public
Safety, Criminology or other relateddisciplines from a
recognized institution of learning, and must have
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career
courses for such as may be established by the Fire

Bureau; and


7)

Chief of the Fire Bureau. — Should have the rank of
General, who must be a member of the Philippine Bar or
a holder of a Master's Degree in Public Administration,
Management, Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or
other related discipline from a recognized institution of
learning, and must have satisfactorily passed the
necessary training or career courses for such position as

may be established by the Fire Bureau

b) No person shall be designated to the following key positions of the

BJMP unless he/she has met the qualification provided therein:

1)

Municipal Jail Warden. — Should have the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel, who must have finished at least
second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twelve
(12) units in a Master’s Degree Program in Management,
Public Administration, Public Safety, Criminology,
Penology, Sociology, National Security Administration,
Defense Studies, or other related disciplines from a
recognized institution of learning, and must have
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career
courses for such position as may be established by the

Jail Bureau;


2)

3)

City Jail Warden. — Should have the rank of Colonel,
who must have finished at least second year Bachelor of
Laws or earned at least twenty four (24) units in Master’s
Degree Program in Management, Public Administration,
Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National
Security Administration, Defense Studies or related
disciplines from a recognized institution of learning and
must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or
career courses for such position as may be established
by the Jail Bureau: Provided, that in City Jails with a
population of one thousand (1,000) or more inmates, the
City Jail Warden shall the rank and qualification of a

District Jail Warden;

District Jail Warden, Provincial Jail Administrator,
Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Assistant
Regional Director for Operations and Regional Chief of
Directorial Staff. — Should have the rank of Colonel, who
must be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a
Master’s Degreein Management, Public Administration,
Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National
Security Administration, Defense Studies or other related
discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and
must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or

career courses for such position as may be established


4)

5)

by the Jail Bureau;

Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology,
Assistant Regional Director for Administration (NCR) and
Assistant Regional Director for Operations (NCR). —
Should have the rank of Brigadier General, who must be
a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a Master’s
Degree in Management, Public Administration, Public
Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National
Security Administration, Defense Studies or other related
discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and
must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or
career courses for such position as may be established

by the Jail Bureau;

Director of the Directorate of the National Headquarters
Office and Regional Director for the National Capital
Region. Should have the rank of Major General, who
must be a graduate of Bachelor of Lawsor a holder of a
Master’s Degree in Management, Public Administration,
Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National
Security Administration, Defense Studies or other related
discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and
must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or

career courses for such position as may be established


6)

7)

by the Jail Bureau;

Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, Deputy
Chief for Operations of the Jail Bureau and Chief of
Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau. — Should have the
rank of Licutenant General, who must be a member of
the Philippine Bar or a holder of a Master’s Degree in
Management, Public Administration, Public Safety,
Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National Security
Administration, Defense Studies or other related
discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and
must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or
career courses for such position as may be established

by the Jail Bureau; and

Chief of the Jail Bureau. — Should have the rank of
General, who must be a member of the Philippine Bar or
a holder of a Master’s Degree in Management, Public
Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, Penology,
Sociology, National Security Administration, Defense
Studies or other related discipline from a recognized
institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily
passed the necessary training or career courses for such

position as may be established by the Jail Bureau.


Any uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP who is currently
occupying such designation for more than five (5) years shall be

reclassified of their ranks by operation of law.”

SECTION 6. Section 58 and 64 of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the
“Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,” and Section 12

of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as

follows:

| From To |
Fire /Jail Director General Fire/Jail General
Fire/JailDeputyDirectorGeneral | Fire/Jail Licutenant General
Fire/Jail Director Fire/Jail Major General |
Fire/JailChief Superintendent Fire /Jail Brigadier General i
Fire/Jail Senior Superintendent | Fire/Jail Colonel
Fire /Jail Superintendent Fire /Jail Lieutenant Colonel
Fire /Jail Chief Inspector Fire /Jail Major
Fire /Jail Senior Inspector Fire /Jail Captain
Fire/ Jail Inspector Fire /Jail Lieutenant
Senior Fire /Jail Officer IV Fire/Jail Executive Master

| Senior Fire /Jail Officer III Fire/Jail Chief Master Sergeant |

| Senior Fire /Jail Officer II Fire/Jail Senior Master Sergeant |
Senior Fire /Jail Officer 1 Fire/Jail Master Sergeant |
Fire/ Jail Officer II Fire /Jail Staff Sergeant
Fire/Jail Officer II Fire /Jail Corporal
Fire/Jail Officer I Fire/JailMan/Woman

SECTION 7.Implementation Rules and Regulations. - The DILG in coordination
with the BFP and the BJMP, 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.

SECTION 8.Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is


declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of

the other provisions not affected thereby.

SECTION 9.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.

SECTION 10.£ffectivity. - 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, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,