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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3751

House ‘Bill No. ~

Introduced by REP. PRINCESS RIHAN M. SAKALURAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution states that “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”.

Also, the delivery of quality government services is considered as a strategy for the
attainment of efficient government and recognizing the valiant efforts of uniformed men and
women of the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology such
as the inherent risk and danger associated BFP’s mandate in preventing and suppression
destructive fires coupled with assisting the AFP during times of national emergency and the
BJMP’s critical role in ensuring equal access to justice for the inmates, this bill is filed to
address imbalances in terms of rank classification with other agency whose service and
sacrifices are the same.

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



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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3751

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. PRINCESS RIHAN M. SAKALURAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE RANK CLASSIFICATION AND ORGANIZATION OF KEY POSITIONS IN
THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND
PENOLOGY (BJMP), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263, AS AMENDED
BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9592 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. - Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

SEC. 3. Organization and Key Positions of the BFP and the BJMP. - The BFP and
the BJMP 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 senior superintendent BRIGADIER GENERAL in the service: Provided, that
inno 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 direeter GENERAL shall
have the position title of Chief of the Fire Bureau and the Chief of the Jail
Bureau, respectively. The second officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP
with the rank of chief superintendent shall have the position title of Deputy
Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The third officer in
command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of chief-superintendent
LIEUTENANT GENERAL shall have the position title of Deputy Chief for
Operation of Fire Bureau and Deputy Chief for Operation of the Jail Bureau,
respectively. The fourth officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the
rank of chief superintendent 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 shalll be assisted by the directors of the
directorates in the respective national headquarters office with at least the
rank of senior superintendent MAJOR GENERAL.

‘The BFP and the shall 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 senior
superintendent BRIGADIER GENERAL. He/She shall be respectively assisted
by the following officers with the rank of superintendent: Assistant Regional
Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, and
Regional Chief of Directorial Staff. PROVIDED. THAT IN THE NATIONAL
ITAL REGION, THE. JONED OFFICERS SHALL HAVE THE
OF BRIGADIER GENERAL

SECTION 2. - Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

SEC. 5. 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:

XXX XXX XXX


d) Fire/ Jail Ghie€ Superintendent BRIGADIER GENERAL. To Fire/Jail
Director- Appointed by the President upon recommendation of the
Secretary of the DILG, with the proper endorsement by the Chairman
of the CSC.

SECTION 3. - Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

SEC. 7. Professionalization and Upgrading of 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 of the
BFP and the BJMP unless he/she has met the qualifications provided
therein:

1) Municipal Fire Marshal. - Should have the rank of senior inspector,
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 discipline from recognized
institution of learning, and must have satisfactory passed the necessary
training of career courses for such position as may be established by
the Fire Bureau;

2) City Fire Marshal. - Should the rank of chief of senior inspector
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 recognized
institution of learning, and must have satisfactory passed the necessary
training or career courses for such position as may be established by

the Fire Bureau;





‘ORATE OF THE NA’
OFFICE AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
REGION SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST THE RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL,
F LAWS OR A
OF A MATER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT,

[5] 6) 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 superintendent 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 related disciplines from recognized

institution of learning, and must have satisfactory passed the necessary

training or career courses for such as may be established by the Fire

Bureau; and

[6] 7) Chief of the Fire Bureau. - Should have the rank of director
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 satisfactory 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 chief-inspector
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, who have finished at least second year
Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twelve (12) units in a master’
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 satisfactory passed the necessary


training or career courses for such position as may be established by
the Jail Bureau;

2) City Jail Warden. - Should have the rank of chief inspector
LIEUTENANT 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 satisfactory 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;

3) 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 senior superintendent COLONEL, 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
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career courses for such
position as may be established by the Jail bureau;

4) Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology and-Director-of
the—Directorate-of the-National_Headquarters—Office. - ASSISTANT
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION AND ASSISTANT
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Should have
the rank of senior superintendent, 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 satisfactory passed the necessary training or career courses
for such position as may be established by the Jail bureau;

5) DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE OF THE NATIONAL
HEADQUATERS OFFICE AND THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE


SECTION 4.- Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

SEC. 12. RANK CLASSIFICATION - Standardization of the Base Pay, Retirement
and other Benefits of the Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and BJMP - In order
to enhance the general welfare, commitment to service and professionalism of
the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP, they shall receive the
minimum starting salary equivalent to the salary grade level of the
corresponding rank classification of their counterparts in the PNP, as provided
under Section 36 of Republic Act No. 8551, and in the AFP, as provided under
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9166.

RANK CALASSIFICATION SALARY GRADE
Fire/Jail General 30
Fire/Jail Lieutenant General 29
Fire/Jail Major General 28
Fire/Jail Brigadier General 27
Fire/Jail Colonel 26
Fire/Jail Lieutenant Colonel 25
Fire/ Jail Major 24
Senior Fire/Jail Captain 23
Senior Fire/Jail Lieutenant 22

Senior Fire/Jail Executive Master Sergeant 19


Senior Fire/Jail Chief Master Sergeant 18

Senior Fire/Jail Senior Master Sergeant 7
Senior Fire/Jail Master Sergeant 16
Senior Fire/Jail Staff Sergeant 14
Fire/ Jail Corporal 12
Fire/Jail Officer 10

Provided, That all benefits currently receive by the uniformed personnel of the
BFP and the BJMP under existing laws shall continue to be received by
them: Provided, Further, That their retirement pay shall be subject to
adjustment/s based on the prevailing scale of base pay of the uniformed
personnel in the active service.

Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The DILG in coordination with the
Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Civil Service
Commission, and the Department of Management and Budget, shall within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act shall promulgate the rules and regulations
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 6. Separability Clause. Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional, the
same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. All jaws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

Section 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.