REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Hi : “RECEIVED

Re PER RESEN

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE:MAY 04 AY 0 4 2g. |

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 78
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 6682

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The enactment of Republic Act No. 6975 provided for the creation of the Philippine National
Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology. They comprise the uniformed bureaus under the Department of Interior and Local
Government. However, there is a difference between the existing rank classification in the
BFP and the BIMP compared to that of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) which is also part of the uniformed sector. As provided in Republic Act No. 9263, the
highest rank in the BFP and the BJMP is Fire/Jail Director which is equivalent to a two-star
general rank in the PNP and the AFP.

It should be recognized that all members of the uniformed sector are in the same level of
significance in providing peace, order and safety to the Filipino people. Therefore, there is a
need to amend the rank classification in the BFP and the BJMP to observe fairness and
equivalence. This bill then provides for the upgrade of the rank classification in the BFP and
the BMP. The new rank classification will be similar to their PNP counterparts to observe
uniformity and clarity of command and responsibility within the uniformed sector.

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

MANUEL DG} CABOCHAN IIT
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List

TIMEs_6:06 py

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 6682

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIT

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE RANK CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE OF THE UNIFORMED
MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU
OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP) ORGANIZATION,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 6975, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO.
9263

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 BIMP 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 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 [director] 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] 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 officers 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 the 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 shall 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 BJMP shall construct, establish, operate and maintain their
respective regional officers 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] COLONEL: Assistant Regional Director
for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, and Regional Chief of
Directorial Staff: PROVIDED, THAT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGON,
THE AFOREMENTIONED OFFICERS SHALL HAVE THE RANK OF
BRIGADIER GENERAL.”

SEC. 2. Section 5, paragraph d of the same Act 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:

(@) Fire/Jail Officer I to Senior Fire/Jail Officer IV. — Appointed by the respective
Regional Director for Fire Protection and Regional Director for Jail
Management and Penology for the regional office uniformed personnel or by
the respective Chief of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau for the
national headquarters office uniformed personnel, and attested by the Civil
Service Commission (CSC).

(b) xxx

(c) xxx

(d) Fire/Jail [Chief Superintendent] BRIGADIER GENERAL to Fire/Jail
[Director] GENERAL. ~ Appointed by the President upon recommendation
of the Secretary of DILG, with the proper endorsement by the Chairman of the
Civil Service Commission (CSC).”

SEC. 3. Section 7 of the same Act 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 in the BFP unless

he/she 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 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;

(2) City Fire Marshal. — Should have the rank of [chief 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 discipline from a recognized
institution of leaning, and must have satisfactorily passed the
necessary training or career courses for such position as may be
established by the Fire Bureau;

[@) District Fire Marshal, Provincial Fire Marshal, Assistant Regional
director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations
and Regional Chief of Directorial Staff. — Should have the rank of
superintendent, 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 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;]

{(4) District Fire Marshal for the National Capital Region, Regional
Director for Fire Protection and Director of the Directorate of the National
Headquarters Office. — Should have at least the rank of senior
superintendent, 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 discipline from a recognized
institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily passed the necessary
training or carcer course for such position as may be established by the
Fire Bureau;]

(3) District Fire Marshal, District Fire Marshal for the National Capital
Region, Provincial Fire Marshal, Assistant Regional Director for

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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 discipline from a recognized
institution of learning or career courses for such position as may be
established by the Fire Bureau;

(4)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 DISCIPLINE FROM
A RECOGNIZED INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, AND MUST
HAVE SATIFACTORILY PASSED THE NECESSARY
TRAINING OR CAREER COURSE FOR SUCH POSITION AS
MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU;

(5) 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 LAWS OR A HOLDER OF
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 COURSE FOR SUCH POSITION AS.
MAY BE ESTABLSIHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU;

({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 discipline from a recognized
institution of learning 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 [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 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 there

(1) Municipal Jail Warden. — Should have the rank of {chief inspector]
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, who have finished at least second year
Bachelor of Laws or eared 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 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;

(2) City Jail Warden, — Should have the rank of [chief inspector]
COLONEL, who must have finished at least second year Bachelor of
Laws or eared at least twenty for (24) units in Master's Degree
Program in Management, Public Administration, Public Safety,
Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National Security Administration,
Defense Studies or related discipline from a recognized institution of
leaning 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 have the rank and
qualification of a District Jail Warden;

(3) District Jail Warder, 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 or career
courses for such position as may be established by the Jail Bureau;


(4) Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology, and [Directorate
of the National Headquarters Office] ASSISTANT REGIONAL
DERICTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION (NCR) AND ASSISTANT
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (NCR). ~ 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 have satisfactorily 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
HEADQUARTERS OFICE AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION. — SHOULD HAVE THE
RANK OF MAJOR 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;

(© 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 [senior superintendent]
LIEUTENANT GENERAL, who must be a member of the Philippine
Bar of 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

(7) Chief of the Jail 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 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

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24
25

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 BIMP who is currently occupying such
designation for more than five (5) years shall be reclassified of their ranks by
operation of law.”

SEC. 4. Section 12 of the same Act 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 the 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
AEP, as provided under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9166.

[The rate of the base pay of the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP shall
be adjusted in accordance with the following salary grade schedule:] FOR PURPOSES OF
EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION, SUPERVISION AND CONTROL, THE RANK
CLASSIFICATION AND THE CORRESPONDING RATE OF THE BASE PAY OF
THE UNIFORMED PERSONNEL OF THE BFP AND BJMP SHALL BE AS
FOLLOWS:

RANK CLASSIFICATION 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
FIR/JAIL LIEUTENANT COLONEL 25
FIRE/JAIL MAJOR 24
FIRE/JAIL CAPTAIN 23
FIRE/JAIL LIEUTENANT 22
FIRE/JAIL EXECUTIVE MASTER SERGEANT 19
FIRE/JAIL CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT 18
FIRE/JAIL SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT 17
FIRE/JAIL MASTER SERGEANT 16
FIRE/JAIL STAFF SERGEANT 14
FIRE/JAIL CORPORAL 12
FIRE/JAIL MAN/WOMAN 10

SEC. 5. 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.

SEC. 6. 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.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. ~ The renaming provisions of Republic Act No. 6975, as
amended by Republic Act No. 9263 that have reference to the rank and classification of the
uniformed personnel of the BFP and BJMP, and 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.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. — 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,