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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

7361

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In view of the ever-growing population of the country, especially
in urban areas, vertical living is fast becoming the reality of our 21*
century existence. With high-rise commercial and residential structures
(even including schools), safety considerations are assuming increasing
importance. Owners and developers of said structures, on considerations
of profit, tend to promote the “breath-taking” views as their major selling
point. It is therefore necessary for the government to step in if only to
promote public safety and interest.

In recent years, accidents, deliberate jump-offs and “falls”
stemming from altered states of mind, have challenged both policy-
makers and the private sector as to the safety features of the building
industry. Unsupervised toddlers and emotionally intoxicated adults have
become victims to great but avoidable tragedies that are becoming
characteristic of our times.

This proposed measure represents a necessary government
intervention through the simple expedient of requiring the installation of
protective devices to windows and openings in buildings (residential,
commercial, educational, etc.), whether public or private, with two or
more floors. It also mandates the raising of the minimum heights of
railings in balconies, porches or terraces to prevent or at least minimize
incidents of suicides and accidents. While far from mandating a
comprehensive or multi-pronged approach in solving tragic “falls” from
high-rise buildings, this bill takes the necessary initial step in addressing
this blight to modern urban living. We need not wait till the next tragedy
happens before we finally act on this social need.



In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early approval of
this bill is earnestly requested.

UCY /YORRES: MEZ
Representative
Fourth District of Leyte


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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7361

Introduced by Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, TENANTS AND
GUESTS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, IN BUILDINGS,
WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WITH TWO (2) MORE
FLOORS, THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE
DEVICES OR STRUCTURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL
FALLING OR SUICIDE

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

SECTION 1. It is hereby mandated that all owners and developers
of buildings with two (2) or more floors, whether public or private,
already existing or still under design, shall install protective devices on
windows and openings from the second floor up. These devices may
consist of safety / security grills, bars, latches or similar devices intended
to secure the inhabitants, visitors and other occupants of such structures
from accidental falling, deliberate jump-offs and falls stemming from
altered states of mind. It is, however, provided that such protective
devices should not designed or constructed in such a way as to constitute
a fire hazard that will restrict access of fire fighters to the building in

necessary situations.


SEC. 2. It is further mandated that railings for balconies, landings
or porches required under the building code for buildings, covered under
Sec. 1 hereof, shall be raised to a height of one thousand millimeters
(1,000 mm.) minimum from the existing seven hundred fifty millimeters

(750 mm.) in order to protect public safety, especially of children.

SEC. 3. The Department of Public Works and Highways, in
coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection, shall issue the necessary

rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of

this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended.
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,