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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 5155

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was established by virtue of Republic Act No.
6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.
Its role and functions were further reinforced by the passage of Republic Act No. 9514, also
known as the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008. In 2010, the BFP launched its
Modernization Program pursuant to R.A. No. 9514 which aimed to upgrade the
government's firefighting capability with adequate personnel and equipment in order to
safeguard the public from the hazards of destructive fire.

This bill seeks to strengthen and modemize the Bureau of Eire Protection in order to
better serve the Filipino people. It also aims to conduct the employment of more trained
personnel as well as the procurement of modem fire equipment in order to maximize the
services for public safety. In addition, the bill aims to establish an efficient and reliable
monitoring scheme to keep track of the projects implemented by the modernization program
and ensure their timely accomplishment. Lastly, this bill intends to encourage BFP's
ship with key stakeholders for a coordinated effort in safeguarding the

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EIGHTEENTI
REPUBLIC
First Regular

CONGRESS )
IF THE PHILIPPINES )
sion )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

STRENGTH
PROVIDING

Be it enacted
assembled:

SECTION 1.
Act”.

SECTION 2.
through the
promotion of
laws, rules
prevention a
service. T
Program.

SECTION 3.
existing fun
have the foll

a) Be
buildings, fh

| 6155

| House Bill No.

AN ACT
ING AND MODERNIZING THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION,
'UNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

by the Senate and House of Representatives the Philippines in Congress
Short Tite. - This Act shall be known as the “Fire Protection Modemization

Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to uphold public safety
revention and suppression of all kinds of destructive fires as well as the
e professionalization of the fire service. Moreover, the State shall enforce all
ind regulations in order to guarantee compliance-to the standard of fire
safety measures and ensure accountability in tire protection and prevention
ds this end, the State shall implement a Fire Protection Modemization

Additional Functions of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BSP). - Aside from its
ns under Republic Act No. 9514 and Republic Act No. 6975, the BFP shall
ing functions:

responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on
ises and other structures, including those found in economic zones including

Igorot-industrial economic zones, free ports and special economic zones, IT parks/centers,

manufacturit
other similar

facilities with

economic zones, medical tourism parks/centers, tourism economic zone, and
tities;

b) spaced and maintain regional arson laboratories and research and testing

plete equipment;

spond to disasters, whether manmade or natural, and respond to other

©) Re:
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 vs particularly in informal settler areas and economically depressed areas, in
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and

e) Re
and other per

ensure compli
purpose, a fil

issuances of

luire the building owner to submit plans and specifications of the said building
inent documents as may be determined by BFP and evaluate the same to
farce with the Fire Code and other applicable codes and standards. For this
safety evaluation clearance shall be issued as a prerequisite for the

e building permit.



SECTION |. Fire Protection Modernization Program. - The Bureau of Fire Protection, in
coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall
establish and implement a Fire Protection Modernization Program, which shall consist of the
following components:

a) Fire Protection Service. - The modemization 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
programs shall develop the Bureau of Fire Protection into an efficient, responsive and
modem ageney of the Department of the Interior and Local Govemment with the capability to
implement Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines. The
Bureau of Fire Protection, 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
Department of the Interior and Local Govemment and Department of Budget and
Management| the revised organizational structure and staffing pattems for officers and
personnel of the UP. The revised organizational structure shall include all the offices of the
BFP, the Fire Training Service, and the REP Central and Regional Hospitals. The BFP shall
design and establish a qualification upgrading program for the BFP officers and personnel in
accordance with the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations;

itoring and Evaluation Services. - The modemization program shall put in
ring and evaluation scheme to be supervised by the Regional Offices in order
to track the individual progress of each of its component to be able to strengthen its
monitoring the projects implemented and ensure their timely completion. The MP shall
likewise further develop its partnership with key stakeholders for a coordinated effort in
safeguarding the populace from the hazards of destructive fires.

d) Material and Technology Development. - The modemization programs shall
upgrade existing fire protection equipment and services and acquire new equipment for fire
protection. Provided, the acquisition of new equipment shall be synchronized with the phase-
‘out of uneconomical and obsolete major equipment and weapons systems in the BFP
inventory;

e) Specialized Services Development. - The modernization program shall establish
specialized fie 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

f) Human Resource Development. - The modemization program shall include
trainings for MP 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 UP shall undergo a Mandatory Training Program. Within one hundred eighty (180)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DILG and the BFP Chief shall submit
the details of the Fire Protection Modemization Program to Congress.

SECTION 5. Multi-Year Contracts or Other Contractual Arrangement. - 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
is and conditions favorable to the government, enter into multi-year contracts


‘or other cc

implementati

ractual agreements with local or foreign suppliers or contractors in the
Ins of this Act.

SECTION 6. Annual Report. - The BFP shall submit to the Office of the President and
Congress, re the Secretary of Interior and Local Goverment, an annual report
th

containing
Program.

process and status of the implementation of the Fire Protection Modernization

SECTION 7. Period of Implementation. - The Fire Protection Modemization Program under
this Act, shall be implemented over a period of three (3) years effectives 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the

approval of

is Act, the BIT and DILG shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary

to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 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,

SECTION Beret Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances

or parts ther

accordingly.

‘of, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified
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SECTION 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,