Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA’
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular eee
House Bill No. 4

Introduced by Honorable Cristal L. Bagatsing

Explanatory Note

This bill seek to amend RA 7916 particularly section 9 by incorporating in the said law the
powers and authority granted to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) in order to efficiently and effectively
harmonize their working relationship.

The legal mandate of the BFP under RA 9514 (Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008)
that the conduction of fire saftety inspection and the issuance of fire safety Inspection Certificate
{FSIC), confers the authority to the BFP.

Further it is also provided under this bill that in any given crisis situation the council shall be
automatically constituted, taking into consideration the standards set forth in the propose bill in order
not to defeat the intention of the law.

As such, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

CRISTA\ |ATSING

ive
* District, Manila


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

House BILL NB 394

Introduced by Honorable Cristal L. Bagatsing

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE
CO ZONES AND AUTOMATICALLY INSTITUTING THE CRISIS MANAGEMENT COUNCIL IN A
GIVEN CRISIS SITUATION, THEREBY AMENDING SECTION 9 OF RA7916, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE PEZA LAW AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. — Section 9 of RA 7916 is hereby amended to Read as follows:

“SEC. 9. Defense and Security — The defense of the ECOZONE and the security
of its perimeter fence shall be the responsibility of the national government in coordination
with the PEZA. Military forces sent by the national government for the purpose of defense
shall not interfere in the internal affairs of any of the ECOZONE and expenditure for these
military forces shall be borne by the national government. The PEZA may provide and
establish the ECOZONES inter security and fire fighting forces.”

IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND
REGULATIONS GOVERNING FIRE PREVENTION PROTECTION AND SAFETY, THE
IMPLEMENTING/ENFORCEMENT OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE ECOZONES
SHALL REMAIN TO BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION:
PROVIDED, THAT, IN ANY GIVEN CRISIS SITUATION IN THE ECOZONE THE CRISIS MANGEMENT
COUNCIL IS HEREBY CONSTITUTED AUTOMATICALLY AND SHALL BE COMPOSED AS FOLLOWS:

‘A. MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY;

B. HIGHEST RANKING OFFICER OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONLA POLICE.

C. HIGHEST RANKING OFFICER OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION;

D. THE CHAIRPERSON OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PHILIPPINE
ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY;


E. THE CHIEF OF STAFF OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
PHILIPPINES PROVIDED THAT IT CONCERNS MILITARY FORCES.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS, TO THE
CONTRARY, THE ISSUANCE OF FIRE SECURITY CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE SHALL BE WITH THE
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION.

WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THIS ACT, THE PEZA SHALL ISSUE
THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THIS SECTION IN COORDINATION WITH
THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE AND THE
‘BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING:

A) THE EFFECT OF ANY POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS
OF THE ECOZONE;

B) THE EFFECT OF THE INTERNAL SECURITY AND FIREFIGHTING FORCES ESTABLISHED
BY PEZA;

C) THE EFFECT OF INTERFERENCE IN CASE OF CRISIS AS TO THE ENTRY AND EXIT OF
GOODS AND MERCHANDISE IN THE ECOZONE;

D) THE GUIDELINES AND TRANSPARENCY FOR THE ISSUANCE OF FIRE SECURITY
CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.

SEC. 2. ~ Separability Clause. = Any provision of this act or part hereof that may be
‘declared uriconstitutional shall not affect the effectivity of the other provisions.

‘SEC. 3. - Repealing Clause. — Any provision of this act or part hereof that may be
declared unconstitutional shall rot affect the effectivity of the other provisions.

SEC. 4. — Effectivity Clause. — Any provision of this act or part hereof that may be
declared unconstitutional shall not affect the effectivity of the other provisions.

Approved.