EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 1958

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to allow local government units to retain fifty percent (50%) of the
collection proceeds from all taxes, fees and fines imposed under Presidential Decree (PD)
No. 1185, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines, to be used for the
maintenance and purchase of firefighting gadgets, equipment and fire trucks for its local fire
stations,

Pursuant to Section 14 of PD 1185, local government units are mandated to collect
fire inspection fees from business establishments within their territories and to remit the
same to the national treasury. However, despite the huge amount of fire inspection fees
remitted to the National Treasury, the national government fails to provide for the purchase
of new fire trucks and equipment necessary for fire prevention. Hence, dilapidated fire
trucks and worn out firefighting equipment are perennial problems in the prevention and
‘suppression of fire.

Fire prevention and suppression require the adoption of uniform fire safety standards,
the incorporation of fire safety facilities and provision of protective and safety devices in
buildings and structures. In order to effectively implement all efforts to minimize the
occurrence of fires and their destructive effects, it is imperative to empower the local
government units to retain fifty percent (50%) of the said collection proceeds to be used for
upgrading equipment and facilities of their respective fire departments. The remaining fifty
percent (50%), however, will still be remitted to the National Treasury.

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

RUFUS B. RODAIGYEZ

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
1858

House Bill No.

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
(80%) 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, APPLIANCES 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. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,